The prove-it contract season paid off for Ed Ingram.
The Texans agreed to re-sign their starting right guard to a three-year, $37.5 million contract, keeping him off the free agent market.
The deal includes $20 million fully guaranteed at signing and nearly $14 million in signing bonus, according to KPRC's Aaron Wilson.
Ingram is considered a mauler in the run game, though he sometimes struggles in pass protection. Still, his attitude and approach embody what the Texans want their offensive line to be when it's all said and done.
It is the second move to bring back an offensive lineman who started for the Texans by the end of the season. Veteran right tackle Trent Brown also agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $7 million.
Yet there is still a question about what the Texans will do with the rest of their interior offensive line. There's an obvious hole at left guard and ideally they would upgrade at center from last year's starter Jake Andrews.
Top-end interior offensive lineman already appear to be off the board early in the legal tampering period before free agents can officially sign.
The Las Vegas Raiders and center Tyler Linderbaum agreed to a three-year, $81 million deal that includes $60 million guaranteed. Cade Mays, another center the Texans reportedly showed interest in, agreed to a three-year, $25 million deal with the Detroit Lions.
Former Buffalo Bills guard David Edwards is signing with the New Orleans Saints and the Bills retained center Connor McGovern on a four-year, $52 million deal.
Legal tampering officially started Monday at 11 a.m. CT. Free agents can sign with teams as early as Wednesday at 3 p.m. CT.