
#35 LB · Houston Texans
Height
6'1"
Weight
230 lbs
Age
27
College
Illinois
Draft
Undrafted
Experience
4 yrs
LB Rank
#333 / 349
Grade this player:
| 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 |
Length
1 year
Total Value
$3.0M
Guaranteed
$1.6M
AAV
$3.0M/yr
The Houston Texans took a flyer on unproven talent with Jake Hansen's one-year, $3.0M deal, but this contract earns a D+ CVI as a slight overpay for a linebacker who hasn't demonstrated NFL-caliber production. Paying $3M annually for an unproven commodity at linebacker represents questionable resource allocation, especially when that money could have been deployed toward established depth or invested in proven special teams contributors. The silver lining here is the contract structure — just one year with $1.6M guaranteed gives Houston an easy exit ramp if Hansen fails to develop, limiting the downside risk of this speculative investment. However, even for a prove-it deal, $3M feels steep for a player who lacks the resume to justify starter money, particularly when quality veteran linebackers often sign for similar or lower figures. This signing screams "camp body with upside" rather than meaningful roster addition, and the Texans would have been better served either going cheaper on an unproven player or spending slightly more for established production.
Jake Hansen receives an F grade as a Texans linebacker who has been a consistent special teams presence without making a dent on defense. His 84 tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble across 56 games over four seasons represent limited defensive impact, though the 14-16 games played each season shows Houston values his availability and special teams work. The five tackles for loss add some behind-the-line disruption, but Hansen has never earned a significant defensive role in a competitive Texans linebacking corps. He is the kind of reliable depth piece that keeps a 53-man roster functional without ever threatening to start. Hansen's F grade reflects his defensive limitations rather than his special teams value, which is the actual reason he keeps making rosters.
No transactions found for this player.
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| 12 |
| 0.0 |
| 0 |
| 2022 | ![]() | 11 | 25 | 1.0 | 0 |
Updated Mar 19, 2026
Recent seasons are weighted more heavily in the overall performance grade.
F
2025
(50% weight)
F
2024
(30% weight)
F
2023
(20% weight)