Texans secure their pass-rushing titans! Hunter's extension paves the way, ensuring an elite defensive duo wreaks havoc through at least 2027.
The Houston Texans entered the 2026 offseason with a ton of questions regarding certain players on the roster and their contract situations. It has been a busy week as the franchise has agreed to a pair of trades, but the organization has also started to iron out some contracts, and that was proven by the one-year extension that was given to Danielle Hunter.
Hunter was initially under contract only through the 2026 season, and this deal will keep him in Houston through 2027. It makes him the fourth-highest paid edge rusher in the league, a number that his teammate will likely surpass at some point in the near future.
With Hunter locked up through 2027, Houston can now turn its attention to Will Anderson Jr. Anderson just finished his third season in the NFL, which means he is now eligible for a contract extension. There should be no question about whether the franchise wants to keep him around, but it will be interesting to see how the Texans do it. The franchise can pick up his fifth-year option for the 2027 season and then extend him, or Houston can forego the option year and just extend him now. The latter is what the Texans decided to do with cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.
Now that the Texans have Hunter on the books through at least the 2027 season, it means the franchise has locked up the best edge rushing duo for the next two seasons. Both Hunter and Anderson have been a big reason for Houston's success over the last two seasons, and the organization can clearly see that. Anderson will be in town for a long time, and now Hunter is sticking around for another two years.
The new money in the extension for Hunter is a total of $40.1 million, and $30.7 million of that came in the form of a signing bonus. The entire value of the extension is guaranteed. Hunter initially signed with Houston when he hit free agency during the 2024 offseason. He initially signed a two-year deal, then a one-year extension during the 2025 offseason. The two sides repeated that process this time around. In his two seasons with the organization, Hunter has been either an All-Pro or a Pro Bowler, recording 4 forced fumbles, 27 sacks, and 100 total tackles.
Hunter and Anderson will look to continue to improve in an attempt to help the franchise get to its first AFC Championship Game in history.