Howard has started 54 games for Houston over the past four seasons.
The 2019 first-round pick was slated to enter the fifth and final year of his rookie contract and set to earn $13.979 million in base salary. Now Howard is under contract through 2026, when he’ll have a chance to hit the open market at the age of 30.
The $18.66 million new-money average puts Howard fifth among all right tackles in per-year pay and ninth among all tackles after the Giants also extended Andrew Thomas on Wednesday.
Earlier this spring, the Texans reached a three-year, $75 million contract with left tackle Laremy Tunsil, making him the highest-paid O-lineman at $25 million annually. Houston also extended right guard Shaq Mason to a three-year, $36 million extension in May. Locking down Howard now underscores the importance of Houston creating stability up front for rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud entering 2023 and beyond.