Whitney Mercilus is in for a big payday.
The Houston Texans have agreed to a four-year contract extension with the linebacker, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.
Tania Ganguli of ESPN is reporting the extension is worth $26 million.
The Texans did not pick up his fifth-year option, and now it's clear why. Mercilus has been a consistent performer for Houston since entering the league in 2012, accumulating 18 sacks over his first three campaigns.
Still, that's a lot of money for a guy who can attribute much of his success to playing behind J.J. Watt. Many times Watt is the recipient of double teams, opening up space for Mercilus to get to the quarterback.
If Jadeveon Clowney can stay healthy this season and add to the pass rush, Mercilus and company may find themselves with even more room to maneuver.