The Texans didn’t pick up the fifth-year option on the rookie contract of 2012 first-round pick Whitney Mercilus, but now that’s moot. Mercilus and the Texans have agreed on a four-year contract extension.
John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports that Mercilus will get a $5.25 million signing bonus, $10.8 million guaranteed and $26 million over the life of the contract, which keeps him tied to Houston through the 2019 season.
In three seasons with the Texans, Mercilus has played in every game but one and recorded 18 sacks. He’s part of a front sevent that Houston has spent a lot of resources building, with players including J.J. Watt, Vince Wilfork, Jadeveon Clowney, Brian Cushing and this year’s second-round pick, Benardrick McKinney.