The Houston Texans spent lavishly this offseason to upgrade their defensive line.
While they didn’t extend a lot of long-term contracts to free agents, general manager Nick Caserio did sign edge rusher Danielle Hunter to a two-year deal worth up to $51 million. That move replaced the younger Jonathan Greenard — who left for the Minnesota Vikings — with the more productive but older Hunter.
The move was substantial, but not a bonafide slam dunk in the eyes of Pro Football Focus. The Hunter signing was named one of the biggest “boom or bust” moves of the offseason, according to PFF’s Sam Monson, because it felt more like a “win-now” move rather than a long-term one the Texans appeared to be doing in DeMeco Ryans’ first year with the team.
“Judging by this offseason to date, that seems to have changed their strategy a little, and they have been willing to focus a little more on the now rather than the future,” Monson wrote. “… Rarely does a team voluntarily get older and more expensive at a position when the incumbent is a good player, but that’s what the Texans decided to do with Hunter. That is a risk, but it’s not exactly bringing much bust potential. The risk in Hunter is his injury history — which, to be fair, is getting further and further in the rear-view mirror.”
Hunter missed all of 2020 with a neck injury and then 10 games in 2021 with a torn pectoral injury. He played in all 17 games for the past two seasons and only missed two games in his career before 2020, both of which were in his rookie season in 2015.
The age is the only true issue, as Hunter will turn 30 in October. But that’s why Caserio only handed Hunter a two-year deal.
Hunter has been one of the most productive edge rushers since he was drafted as well. He set a career-high with 16.5 in 2023 and has 87.5 sacks for his career. The commitment is big now, but that’s what Houston needs to do to capitalize on their window with C.J. Stroud still on a rookie deal.