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Another major NFL free-agent domino fell Tuesday night.
Per Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, Danielle Hunter is signing with the Houston Texans on a two-year deal worth up to $51 million. ESPN’s Adam Schefter said the contract includes $48 million in guaranteed money.
Hunter made his fourth Pro Bowl when compiling a career-high 16.5 sacks in his eighth season with the Minnesota Vikings. The star pass rusher also tied Maxx Crosby for an NFL-high 23 tackles for a loss while registering 41 pressures and four forced fumbles.
The former third-round pick missed all of 2020 recovering from neck surgery and played seven games before tearing his pec the following year. However, Hunter still has the fifth-most sacks (62) behind T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, Aaron Donald, and Chris Jones since the start of 2018.
Following those two significant health setbacks, Hunter hasn’t missed a game in the last two seasons. He also played 89 percent of Minnesota’s defensive snaps in 2023, the highest rate of his career.
Hunter now joins a Texans squad that improved from three wins to an AFC South title behind first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans. While No. 2 pick C.J. Stroud transformed the offense, No. 3 pick Will Anderson earned Pro Bowl and Defensive Rookie of the Year honors with seven sacks and 22 quarterback hits.
The Texans are seemingly looking to strike while rostering Stroud and Anderson on rookie contracts. They acquired running back Joe Mixon from the Cincinnati Bengals and bolstered their defense by signing linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, cornerback Jeff Okudah, and defensive end Denico Autry.