Denico Autry won't be back for a fourth season in a Tennessee Titans uniform, but he will be staying in the AFC South.

Autry is expected to sign a contract with the Houston Texans, per a report from NFL Network, giving the soon-to-be 34-year-old defender a home for his 11th pro season. Autry had a career year with the Titans in 2023, logging 12 tackles for loss and a career-high 11.5 sacks to lead the team. He has totaled eight or more sacks in each of his three seasons with the Titans, a tenure in which he's played defensive tackle, defensive end and outside linebacker.

The Titans signed Autry in 2021 after he had played four seasons with the Raiders and three with the division-rival Colts. He quickly emerged as a dominant force on the front line of the Titans' defense alongside Jeffery Simmons, Harold Landry and Bud Dupree. Autry led the Titans in sacks in 2022 and 2023 despite playing only 12 games in 2022.

Simmons and Landry remain under contract, but not much else is the same about the Titans' defense, or offense for that matter, as it was in 2021. The Titans don't have any other players under contract who started on the day Autry made his first start with the team.

Despite playing only three seasons with the Titans, Autry ranks sixth in sacks among players who've played for the franchise in Tennessee and is only the second player in that span to have three straight seasons with eight or more sacks, joining Jevon Kearse.

Tracking the Tennessee Titans' free agents in 2024

• Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair: Unsigned

• Defensive lineman Denico Autry: Signing with Texans

• Defensive tackle Ross Blacklock: Unsigned

• Center Aaron Brewer: Unsigned

• Running back Julius Chestnut: Unsigned

• Long snapper Morgan Cox: Re-signed with Titans

• Defensive lineman Marlon Davidson: Unsigned

• Safety Terrell Edmunds: Unsigned

• Kicker Nick Folk: Unsigned

• Cornerback Kristian Fulton: Unsigned

• Linebacker Jack Gibbens: Unsigned

• Defensive end Trevis Gipson: Unsigned

• Running back Derrick Henry: Unsigned

• Offensive lineman Chris Hubbard: Unsigned

• Defensive lineman Jaleel Johnson: Unsigned

• Linebacker Joe Jones: Unsigned

• Offensive lineman Corey Levin: Unsigned

• Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting: Signing with Arizona Cardinals

• Wide receiver Chris Moore: Unsigned

• Defensive tackle Kyle Peko: Unsigned

• Tight end Kevin Rader: Unsigned

• Quarterback Ryan Tannehill: Unsigned

• Guard Calvin Throckmorton: Unsigned

• Safety K'Von Wallace: Unsigned

• Running back Jonathan Ward: Unsigned

• Tight end Trevon Wesco: Unsigned

• Wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine: Unsigned

Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Titans DL Denico Autry expected to sign free agent deal with Texans