Texans make huge defensive splash by agreeing to terms with star pass-rusher

This is a huge addition for the Texans as Hunter is one of the best pass-rushers in the entire NFL. Until reaching free agency this spring he had spent his entire career with the Minnesota Vikings, recording 87.5 sacks over 119 career regular season games. That includes 16.5 during the 2023 season.

It not only gives the Texans an elite pass-rusher, but also gives them a potentially dominant pass-rushing duo when Hunter is teamed up with 2023 first-round pick Will Anderson Jr. 

The Texans traded up to select Anderson with the No. 3 pick in the 2023 class and gave them a cornerstone building block for the defense. His 45 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 22 quarterback hits and seven sacks helped make him the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year. 

Having Anderson and Hunter swarming in on opposing quarterbacks is a potential game-changer for the Texans defense.

Being able to add a free agent like Hunter at that price is just one of the many benefits that comes from having a franchise quarterback — C.J. Stroud — playing on a rookie contract. That low salary at such a premium position gives teams like the Texans maximum flexibility to build around their young star.

They already had one of the best young teams in the league, and it gets even stronger with the addition of Hunter.

The fact it is only a two-year deal also makes it a relatively low-risk deal. Hunter has been so good, for so long that it seems unlikely that his production is going to just stop over the next two years. 

Even if he starts slowing down into his 30s, the Texans are still getting him at peak production and significantly increasing their chances in the AFC.