Jake Hansen

Career StatsD+

Year	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT
Career		56	84	2.0	—
2025		15	19	0.0	0
2024		16	28	1.0	0
2023		14

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The D Contract Value Index on Jake Hansen's deal stems from how the cap hit lines up against on-field output. At $3M AAV on a one-year deal, Hansen is being paid like a solid contributor, but his 2025 season numbers—19 tackles across 15 games—and his four-year resume (2 sacks, 1 forced fumble) paint the picture of a depth linebacker operating well below that wage threshold. For a fourth-year linebacker in his prime years, that production profile is simply insufficient to justify even a modestly paid contract; positional starters at the position typically deliver impact metrics that justify $3M+ annually, and Hansen's depth-piece output does not meet that bar. The injury concern compounds the misalignment: his recent IR placement for a chest injury introduces durability risk into an already marginal value proposition, meaning the Texans are banking on availability next season just to get baseline returns on the deal. The organization's recent activity—adding defensive talent across multiple levels—suggests Houston views Hansen as a backup piece in a crowded linebacker room rather than a core player, which reinforces that this contract represents overpayment for a role-based contributor. On a one-year runway, the financial risk is contained, but the fundamental issue remains: Hansen's modest on-field contributions do not justify his compensation tier.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the D band — a quick read on where Jake's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Production at linebacker earns Jake Hansen a D+ performance grade in the current sample. Hansen occupies the depth-piece tier within the position—a fourth-year player whose modest statistical output and recent durability concerns have calcified his role as a serviceable contributor rather than an impactful starter. His 2025 season: 19 tackles, 15 games represents the bulk of his production envelope: reliable snap availability but minimal impact play, a profile reinforced by career totals of just 2 sacks and 1 forced fumble across four seasons. The core weakness is obvious—Hansen generates almost no splash production, the kind of tackles-for-loss or turnover creation that separates starters from depth defenders. His current role is complicated by his IR placement due to a chest injury heading into the offseason, a durability red flag that lands squarely on top of an already thin statistical résumé and fuels legitimate questions about his conditioning and availability entering 2026. The Texans' decision to extend him reflects organizational confidence in his positional value and run-defense consistency, but that vote of confidence has been immediately shadowed by the injury narrative, and with Houston aggressively adding linebacker depth via outside signings this offseason, Hansen enters next season with almost no margin for error—he will need to stay healthy and reclaim snap percentage to justify the contract renewal.

How Jake Compares at the Position

Jake Hansen ranks 265th of 338 graded linebackers by performance. That slots Jake between Bj Ojulari (D+) just ahead and Tyler Batty (D+) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Jake Hansen's public standing entering the 2026 season is genuinely shaky, earning a D+ sentiment grade that accurately reflects a player stuck in an uncomfortable narrative limbo. The Texans' decision to extend his contract generated mild goodwill in the headlines — organizational commitment means something — but that positive momentum was almost immediately undercut by his IR placement due to a chest injury, which has become the dominant story surrounding him and raised real questions about his durability and conditioning heading into next season. That injury framing is particularly damaging because it lands on top of an already thin statistical resume: in 2025, Hansen posted 19 tackles across 15 games, and over four NFL seasons he has accumulated just 2 career sacks and 1 forced fumble, the kind of numbers that cement a depth-piece reputation rather than inspire any legitimate starter conversation. His performance grade reflects that reality harshly, and the media narrative has followed suit — there is simply no statistical foundation to push back against the injury concern and generate positive spin. Meanwhile, Houston has been aggressive in reshaping its roster this offseason, adding Wyatt Teller, Foster Moreau, Evan Brown, Reed Blankenship, Braden Smith, and Marte Mapu, a wave of notable additions that further crowds Hansen off the radar and makes it harder for him to capture fan or media attention. The bottom line is that Hansen is a serviceable contributor whose modest track record and recent health setback leave him with almost no narrative equity heading into 2026 — a player the organization believes in quietly, but one the broader public has little reason to get excited about.