10-year veteran defensive lineman Denico Autry signed a new contract with the Houston Texans. Autry, a former undrafted free agent, spent the 2023 season with the Tennessee Titans but has also played for the Oakland Raiders and Indianapolis Colts.
Source: The #Texans are expected to sign DT Denico Autry to a 2-year, $10M deal. A veteran addition to the Houston D-line. pic.twitter.com/uwWxesgcdz
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 11, 2024
Denico Autry, Houston Texans, Agree to Contract
Pass rusher Denico Autry showed just how effective he could be in the final year of his contract. Appearing in all 17 games, the veteran defensive lineman finished the season with 11.5 sacks, 50 tackles, 12 tackles-for-loss, 17 quarterback hits, and two forced fumbles. Despite his best efforts, the Titans themselves had a rough season and fired head coach Mike Vrabel.
Denico Autry originally entered the league as an undrafted free agent following the 2014 NFL Draft. Signing with the Oakland Raiders, the Mississippi State product spent the majority of his rookie season in a depth role. Appearing in just 10 games without making a start, Autry finished his inaugural season with 13 tackles, three tackles-for-loss, and one quarterback hit.
Autry built on this promising debut to earn a larger role in 2015. Appearing in 14 games while making eight starts, the defensive lineman finished the year with three sacks, 22 tackles, six tackles-for-loss, and seven quarterback hits. After two seasons spent in a similar role, Denico Autry left in free agency to sign a new contract with the Indianapolis Colts.
The Mississippi State product appeared in 12 games during his first year with the Colts while making 11 starts. While on the field, he recorded nine sacks, 37 tackles, 13 tackles-for-loss, and 11 quarterback hits. After a relatively down 2019, he returned to form in 2020, recording 7.5 sacks, 33 tackles, nine tackles-for-loss, and 10 quarterback hits.
Denico Autry then signed a three-year contract with the Tennessee Titans and continued to prove he could get after the quarterback. In 2021, he recorded nine sacks, 31 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss, and 18 quarterback hits. The following season, he finished with eight sacks, 27 tackles, and 19 quarterback hits in just 12 games.
Main Photo: Christopher Hannewinc – USA Today Sports
