Whitney Mercilus pens four-year extension with Houston Texans

The Houston Texans have announced that they have agreed a long-term contract extension with linebacker Whitney Mercilus.

The AFC South side selected Mercilus in the first round of the 2012 Draft and the 24-year-old has been a solid player for the club in his three seasons in the NFL.

As a result, the Texans have made the decision to hand Mercilus a four-year contract extension worth $26m (£17.1m), with $10.5m (£6.9m) guaranteed, to keep him at the club until the end of the 2018 campaign.

The linebacker has recorded 122 tackles and 18 sacks in his three years in the NFL.