Texans and CB Desmond King reach a final agreement.
After taking care of some of their own pending free agents on Saturday, the Texans will have a valuable player on their special teams and defense by 2024. Desmond King, a slot corner and returner, and Houston are wrapping up a new contract, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2.
Wilson says that the one-year King contract will start at $1.8MM and have a maximum value of $2.2MM. The 29-year-old played in Houston for the 2021 and 2022 seasons before being included in the team’s final roster cuts prior to the current campaign. This resulted in a brief stay in Pittsburgh; nevertheless, the Steelers traded him before the trade deadline due to his low use.
King was waived and eventually re-joined the Texans in November since no takers emerged. After returning, the former Iowa player started three of the team’s seven regular-season games and both of the postseason games. During that time, he racked up 64 tackles, two sacks, and two pass deflections, demonstrating his ongoing worth to Houston. King had 15 starts in his debut season with the Texans, and in 2024, he’s still probably going to be a vital defensive end.
Throughout his brief tenure with Houston in 2023, the former fifth-round pick also returned eight kicks and one punt. King has spent the majority of his career as a returner and was recognized as an All-Pro for his Chargers special teams work in 2018.
In 2024, if he continues to be Houston’s best returner, he will try to surpass his 12.6 yards per return average in kickoffs the following season.
With over $63MM in cap space as of Saturday, Houston will have plenty of options when free agency begins the following week. The squad hopes to duplicate 2023’s unexpected run to the divisional round, and while the new contracts for Murray and King will significantly reduce that total, they will guarantee continuity on the backend.
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