Azeez Al-Shaair signs contract extension with Texans. Here's what it means

TheHouston Texanshave agreed to an extension with one of their key defenders following the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Texans are signing linebackerAzeez Al-Shaairto a three-year extension, according to multiple reports. The full terms of the contract have not yet been disclosed.

Al-Shaair was entering the final season of a three-year, $34 million contract he signed with the Texans as a free agent in 2024. His new deal will tie him to Houston through the 2029 NFL season.

OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> CB Trent McDuffie: Traded to Los Angeles Rams (previous team: Kansas City Chiefs)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> RB David Montgomery: Traded to Houston Texans (previous team: Detroit Lions)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> WR DJ Moore: Traded to Buffalo Bills (previous team: Chicago Bears)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

2026 NFL offseason tracker: Player signings, trades

OT Tytus Howard:Traded to Cleveland Browns(previous team: Houston Texans)

Al-Shaair's extension comes after he enjoyed a career-best season in 2025. He totaled 103 tackles – his second-most in a single season – while notching a career-best two interceptions and nine pass defenses and allowing an 80.3 passer rating.

Al-Shaair was named to his first career Pro Bowl as a result of his strong 2025 campaign. He was also the Texans' nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.

The Texans kept Al-Shaair despite trade overtures from the Dallas Cowboys,ESPN's Todd Archer reports. The Cowboys pursued Al-Shaair beforeacquiring linebacker Dee Wintersfrom the San Francisco 49ers during the 2026 NFL Draft.

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Retaining Al-Shaair could prove critical for the Texans. Both he and fellow starting linebackerHenry To'oTo'owere set to be free agents following the 2026 season. Now, the Texans have at least one linebacker locked up long-term for their defense, which was among the NFL's best stop units last season.

Here's more to know about Al-Shaair's contract as the soon-to-be 29-year-old prepares to stay in Houston long-term.

Azeez Al-Shaair contract details

The full details of Al-Shaair's contract have not yet been disclosed. All that is presently known is that Al-Shaair has signed a three-year extension to remain with the Texans.

Al-Shaair is the second notable Houston defender to sign a lucrative extension during the offseason. The Texans also inked star pass rusherWill Anderson Jr. to a three-year, $150 million contractto make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history by average annual value (AAV).

This story will be updated.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Texans extend Pro Bowl linebacker after 2026 NFL Draft

byLiam Oneel

in

April 29, 2026

Azeez Al-Shaair signs contract extension with Texans. Here's what it means

TheHouston Texanshave agreed to an extension with one of their key defenders following the 2026 NFL Draft. The Texans are signing ...

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King Charles jets to US for trip overshadowed by Iran quarrel and shooting

By Michael Holden and Suzanne Plunkett

FILE PHOTO: Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla visit the British Museum on the 100th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's birth

LONDON/WASHINGTON, April 27 (Reuters) - Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive in the United States later on Monday for a four-day trip, a tour which has taken on even greater prominence after the White House Correspondents' dinner shooting ‌and amid acrimony between the close allies.

The state visit, by far the most high-profile and consequential of Charles's reign, marks the 250th anniversary ‌of the U.S. declaration of independence from British rule, and is the first to the country by a British monarch for two decades.

It begins with a private meeting with self-proclaimed royal ​fan President Donald Trump, and includes an address to Congress and a lavish dinner at the White House.

PRESS DINNER SHOOTING JUST DAYS BEFORE VISIT

But the long-planned trip has become enmeshed in the political spat between the two countries over the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which led Trump to voice deep displeasure with the British government for failing to support the offensive.

The shooting on Saturday at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, with the president and officials in his ‌administration the likely targets according to the U.S. acting ⁠attorney general, has cast a further pall over the visit.

Buckingham Palace said the trip would still go ahead as planned following discussions between British and U.S. authorities to determine if the incident would impact on the royals' plans.

"The king and ⁠queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case and are looking forward to the visit getting underway tomorrow," a palace spokesperson said on Sunday.

TRUMP HAS CRITICISED UK OVER IRAN STANCE

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On arriving in Washington, the king and queen have a private tea with the president, an unabashed ​lover ​of the British royal family who regularly describes Charles as a "great man", and his ​wife, first lady Melania Trump.

The 77-year-old king, who is still ‌undergoing treatment for cancer, will address Congress the next day - just the second time a British monarch has done so.

The royals will then head on to New York where they will commemorate those killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks ahead of the 25th anniversary, while the queen will also mark the centenary of children's stories featuring Winnie the Pooh.

The U.S. trip concludes in Virginia with the king meeting those involved in conservation work, a nod to his half century of environmental campaigning.

The government of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is hoping the visit will shore up the future of the two allies' "special ‌relationship" which is at its lowest point since the Suez Crisis in 1956.

Britain's ambassador ​to the U.S., Christian Turner, said the visit would underscore the shared history, sacrifice and ​common values between the two countries, adding that the approach would ​be a very British one of: "Keep calm, carry on."

While Trump has eased his criticism of Britain in recent days over ‌its response to the Iran war, an internal Pentagon email ​has set out how the U.S. could ​review its position on Britain's claim to the Falkland Islands as punishment for its lack of support, once again straining ties.

One issue off the table during the visit is the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Royal sources have said it was not possible for the royal couple to meet ​any victims of Epstein during the tour, as ‌some have requested, to avoid impacting on any potential criminal cases.

Charles' brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, whose reputation and royal standing has been destroyed ​over his links to the late U.S. sex offender, is currently facing police inquiries over his connections. The former Prince Andrew ​has denied any wrongdoing.

(Reporting by Michael Holden in London; Editing by Toby Chopra)

byLiam Oneel

in

April 28, 2026

King Charles jets to US for trip overshadowed by Iran quarrel and shooting

By Michael Holden and Suzanne Plunkett FILE PHOTO: Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla visit the British Museum on the ...

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Pistons-Magic takeaways: Detroit's problems are coming to a head as Orlando aims to dunk No. 1 seed

Can we just talk about Orlando Magic forward Jamal Cain's dunk on Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren?

I mean, seriously, look:

Do we even care about the game? Like, who actually won? I genuinely don't remember.

That is one of the nastiest throw-downs ever and not just in a playoff context. Cain kept climbing and dunked on Duren, a man built like a Greek god, so hard the All-Star center backpeddled after coming down back to Earth.

(OK,the Magic took a commanding 3-1 series lead by winning 94-88, but that's definitely just a B-story to Cain's jam.)

In all seriousness, let's dive into Orlando's big win Monday night as it tries to become the seventh No. 8 seed to knock off a No. 1 in NBA history.

Cade Cunningham's turnovers are a team issue

As Cunningham entered Game 4, he had totaled 19 turnovers in the the series.

By halftime, he was up to 25 after turning it over six times in the first half.

While Cunningham is ultimately responsible for hanging on to the ball, the Pistons' roster construction isn't doing him any favors.

With both Duren and Ausar Thompson being almost entirely non-threats from the outside, Orlando has the freedom to double- and even triple-team Cunningham, swarming him whenever his feet are inside the 3-point line.

While Tobias Harris has done a solid job of adding spacing and overall scoring, the bottom line is simple: It shouldn't be this difficult for the Pistons to generate offense through Cunningham, but they have no other creators on the roster.

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Perhaps they should have made a play for someone at the trade deadline, instead of sitting still.

But here they are, shooting 37.8% from the floor and 20% from 3 in a crucial Game 4 as their season appears to be slipping away.

Wendell Carter Jr. is eating Jalen Duren's lunch

Throughout the regular season, it was never in doubt who, among Carter and Duren, had the best season. Duren was an All-Star, a double-double machine and one of the most exciting young players in the league.

Carter, who is far more of a role player than a featured star, apparently didn't get the memo.

During this series, the 6-foot-10 Carter has constantly outhustled, outworked and outdone Duren. It's not always reflected in his raw line (Carter had 12 points and 11 rebounds in Game 4), but his effort has put a spotlight on Duren as he enters free agency this summer.

Duren has struggled mightily all series, scoring a grand total of 39 points over the course of the four games, finding it difficult to get up shots, getting beat by Carter on backdoor lobs and overall having one heck of a troublesome series, which could cost him millions this July.

Dear Jamahl Mosley, make better use of Paolo Banchero

I may sound like a broken record here, but giving Banchero the ball high out on the floor and asking him to "do stuff" (which I'm guessing is his directive, because there doesn't seem to be anything close to a plan), is aching for punishment.

Banchero isn't a natural shooter, nor is he particularly effective as a spacer.

He is, however, ridiculously good near the rim, and when he ducks in for layups and dunks, he draws a ton of fouls and converts plays.

Orlando has one of the most inconsistent offenses in the league, and its plan is to use its most versatile offensive player, who is an athletic 6-10, 250-pound powerhouse, as an outside-in option?

It's been nonsensical for a while now, and it only looks worse after Banchero shot 4-of-18 from the floor and missed all four of his 3-point attempts Monday night.

byLiam Oneel

in

April 28, 2026

Pistons-Magic takeaways: Detroit's problems are coming to a head as Orlando aims to dunk No. 1 seed

Can we just talk about Orlando Magic forward Jamal Cain's dunk on Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren? I mean, seriously, look...

Read More