March 6, 2026, 10:24 a.m. ET
Yesterday was a huge win for the Houston Texans. The team extended their game-disrupting defensive end on a massive $40 million deal.
Payday came for the Texans’ defensive end Danielle Hunter on Thursday. As he would sign a one-year, $40 million deal with the team. It is Hunter’s second extension with the Texans after signing a two-year, $49 million deal with the team in 2024, after spending his first eight seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.
Hunter earned the raise after recording 15 sacks last season, putting him in third place in the NFL. He would also earn second-team All-Pro honors with the Texans defense, which was ranked second in the league in 2025.
The Texans will work all offseason to try to keep the core of the defense together, who have gelled and worked in unison so well recently. The defensive side of the ball was a disruptive force, wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks’ decision-making and timing. Hunter has been a complete gamewrecker and continues to improve every season.
Houston will also look to lock down other defenders during the offseason, as Derek Stingley Jr., Jalen Pitre, Will Anderson Jr., and Azeez Al-Shaair have all been prioritized by the franchise.
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