Houston Texans Praised for Danielle Hunter ‘Splash’

Houston Texans Get High Marks for Danielle Hunter Signing

Behind a stellar rookie season from Offensive Rookie of The Year and No. 1 overall pick C.J. Stroud and DeMeco Ryans making an immediate and significant impact in his first season as head coach, the Houston Texans made a run to the AFC Divisional Playoffs in 2023, but seem primed to make major strides to a Super Bowl in 2024.

Forming an elite pass-rush duo is a big step in the direction of building a sustained contender.

Pro Football Focus believes the Houston Texans and general manager Nick Caserio were big winners of free agency by signing Danielle Hunter, giving the deal a “B+” in terms of value and an “A+” for filling a glaring need.

“Houston makes its splash once and for all,” Brad Spielberger writes for PFF. “With a monster two-year pact for a veteran edge rusher to pair with reigning defensive rookie of the year Will Anderson Jr. The two-year term is quite perfect, as it lines up with the two years before Houston may have to reset the quarterback market with an extension for C.J. Stroud. Hunter, Anderson, and fellow free-agent addition Denico Autry will be a force up front for DeMeco Ryans’ defense.”

The Texans entered free agency as well-positioned as any team, with over $70 million in cap space, and deployed it to add one of the most dominant players available at a premium position.

What Danielle Hunter Brings Houston Texans’ Defense

Danielle Hunter is as dominant a pass-rusher as there is in the NFL, and joins a roster capable of making a legitimate charge at the Lombardi Trophy as early as the 2024 season.

Through his first 119 career games, Hunter has 87.5 sacks, 462 total tackles with 108 tackles for loss, four fumble recoveries and returned two of them for touchdowns.

As PFF points out, Hunter added 80 total quarterback pressures last season while garnering a 79.1 pass-rush grade off the edge of the Vikings.

Hunter’s arrival both upgrades the Houston Texans’ pass-rush and adds an established veteran presence Anderson Jr. can learn from in coming seasons.

Given that the Texans’ path to an eventual Super Bowl berth goes through the likes of elite quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, and others, a dynamic pass-rush duo of Anderson Jr. and Hunter has the possibility of being prolific and a potent counterpunch.

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