The Texans' budget at a premium position could soon be tipping the scales.

Like most franchises, the Texans' reaction to this being a passing league is to load up at the cornerback position.

In their case, they have a potential surplus at corner with Johnathan Joseph, Kareem Jackson and Kevin Johnson all under contract for next season. Jackson is due a $6.5 million base salary with a $8.968 million salary-cap figure. Joseph is due a $6 million base salary and carries a $6.096 million salary-cap figure. And Johnson is entering the third year of his $10.09 million rookie contract.

Despite the amount of money the Texans already have invested in corners, they want to retain Bouye following a breakthrough season in which he intercepted two passes in the playoffs and led the top-ranked defense with 16 passes defended. Bouye has emerged as a rising commodity in NFL circles and is expected to command a lucrative contract regardless of whether he's back with the Texans or leaves as a free agent.

"I certainly couldn't be any more proud of any of our players than I am of A.J. with the way he improved his play and his confidence," Texans general manager Rick Smith said Thursday during an NFL legacy grant event at The Pro-Vision Academy. "I think he had an outstanding year. I've said many, many times you can't have too many corners. We've talked about that a lot.

"I think he's a fine young man. He fits our profile and we certainly would like to have him back and we're going to do everything we can to get that done."

The Texans also have interest in signing Pro Bowl alternate wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to a contract extension. They have him under contract for next season under a fifth-year, $7.915 million club option they picked up last year.

"I think both of those guys are good football players," Smith said of Hopkins and Bouye. "Obviously, they're two different situations and scenarios. I think if you look at our football team you see we spend a lot of time and effort in the draft. When we've got good, young football players, we do our best to extend those guys and keep them a part of our core football team."