Top free-agent edge rusher Danielle Hunter ultimately signed with the Houston Texans, and he apparently turned down more money from the Indianapolis Colts in the process.
According to ESPN’s Stephen Holder, the Colts offered Hunter a more substantial deal than the two-year, $49 million pact he signed with the Texans.
But there are obviously some variables here that may have led to Hunter accepting less from Houston.
First of all, just about all of the money he will be making with the Texans is fully guaranteed. Only $1 million of the contract isn’t.
Second, there is no state income tax in Texas, so even if Indianapolis offered more money, Hunter may end up making more in Houston regardless.
Third, Hunter grew up in the Houston area, so it’s also entirely possible he just wanted to go back home.
And finally, perhaps Hunter just felt the Texans were the better team? They did beat out the Colts for the AFC South division title this past season, after all, and they even won a playoff game.
Holder did not specify exactly how much more Indianapolis offered Hunter. Maybe it was only a few million more dollars in total, which obviously would have been a negligible difference given all of the factors mentioned above.
Regardless, the Colts struck out on Hunter, while the Texans added probably the best pass rusher that was available in free agency.
Hunter is coming off of a brilliant 2023 campaign with the Minnesota Vikings in which he racked up a career-high 16.5 sacks to go along with 83 tackles and four forced fumbles en route to his fourth Pro Bowl appearance.
The 29-year-old, who played his collegiate football at LSU, was selected by the Vikings in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
He has posted five double-digit sacks seasons.
Danielle Hunter will now join Will Anderson to form an incredibly dangerous pass rush in Houston.
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