On March 6, the Houston Texans finalized a one-year contract extension with defensive end Danielle Hunter valued at $40.1 million, according to sources including NFL Network, ESPN, and the Houston Chronicle. This deal, which includes a $30.7 million signing bonus, follows Hunter’s previous one-year, $35.6 million extension signed last March; Hunter was scheduled to become a free agent in 2027.
Hunter’s Performance and Career Highlights
At age 31, Danielle Hunter has demonstrated consistency by starting every game over the past four seasons. In the most recent season, he recorded 54 combined tackles, 15 sacks, three forced fumbles, three passes defensed, and one fumble recovery. He achieved a career-high 16.5 sacks during 17 starts in 2023, which was his final season with the Minnesota Vikings. Selected in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft by Minnesota, Hunter has achieved at least 10.5 sacks in eight of his past nine full seasons. Notably, he missed 10 games in 2021 because of a torn pectoral muscle.
Financial Standing Among NFL Pass Rushers
With this contract extension, Hunter will be ranked fourth among pass rushers in terms of average salary, trailing only Micah Parsons, Aidan Hutchinson, and T.J. Watt. Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year in the last three seasons, holds the fifth spot with a $40 million salary.
