Houston Texans have signed starting center Nick Martin to a three-year deal after his rookie scale contract expires.
Houston Texans have come to terms to an extension with their 2015 second-round draft selection, Nick Martin. He will become the first drafted offensive lineman to earn a contract extension since Bill O’Brien took over as head coach in 2014, and he will become the second lineman to get an extension after Greg Mancz.
Martin was a surprise candidate to earn an extension after missing being plagued with injuries early on his career. He missed his entire rookie season after suffering an ankle injury that required surgery. Martin suffered another ankle injury in his second season and missed the last two games of the regular season as he was placed on the injured reserve.
Field Yates of ESPN reported that Martin will sign a deal with the Texans that will pay him $33 million over three years with $18.35 million guaranteed. He has started in 30 of the last 48 games since being drafted in 2015.
This deal makes Martin one of the top five highest-paid centers in the league and the Texans are betting on him to take the next step in his development. Martin has shown glimpses of promises, but he has to continue to improve as he has been rather inconsistent up to this point.
Martin missed the majority of the preseason with a hamstring injury, and injuries have been the reoccurring theme that has kept him from solidifying himself as the Texans starting center for the long term.