Danielle Hunter's debut season with the Houston Texans was a productive campaign that's become a profitable one.
Hunter and the Texans have agreed to a one-year, $35.6 million extension through 2026, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Wednesday.
Hunter will earn $32 million in 2025 -- which includes a $12.5 million raise -- and $55.1 million over the next two seasons, with $54.1 million fully guaranteed. The 2026 salary of $35.6 million will make Hunter the league's second highest-paid defensive end, just under the Cleveland Browns' Myles Garrett ($40 million average annual salary) and just above the Las Vegas Raiders' Maxx Crosby ($35.5 million).
Hunter's haul comes to fruition just days after the Texans made Derek Stingley Jr. the highest-paid cornerback in the league and further cements the team's support in head coach DeMeco Ryans' defense.
The longtime Minnesota Vikings standout joined Houston ahead of the 2024 campaign on a two-year, $49 million contract.
Hunter promptly delivered a 12-sack season with 90 QB pressures, which was second in the NFL.
Rather than let Hunter head into a contract year unrewarded, the Texans have locked him up for another season.
The 30-year-old Hunter claimed his fifth career Pro Bowl nod in 2024 and quickly formed one of the league's most dastardly edge duos with the ascending Will Anderson Jr. Only two players pressured the quarterback on at least 25 percent of their pass-rushing snaps (including the playoffs) in 2024, and that was Hunter (25.2%) and Anderson (25.9%), according to NFL Research.
Hunter and Anderson now have at least two more seasons together to terrorize QBs.
