Tag: Danielle Hunter

Contract terms for Texans DE Derek Barnett released

Derek Barnett is headed back to the Houston Texans on a one-year deal worth up to $3 million.

The Houston Texans have their No. 3 pass-rusher back for another season in Derek Barnett, and now fans know exactly what the contract entails.

According to KPRC2 Sports Aaron Wilson, Barnett agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth $2 million, including a $300,000 signing bonus. Barnett will earn an annual salary of 1.5 million, $700,000 of which is fully guaranteed.

Barnett, 27, transformed into a staple of Houston’s front seven after being claimed off waivers in late November. In six games, the former first-round defensive end totaled 19 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and 11 quarterback hits.

Barnett, best served as a rotational defensive lineman, also started four games in place of Jonathan Greenard and Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr., who each suffered injuries that required them to miss two games. His greatest moment of the 2023 season came in the AFC Wild Card Round win over the Cleveland Browns.

He recorded a sack, along with four tackles to help Houston pick up its first postseason victory since 2019.

Hunter, who signed a two-year deal worth up to $51 million to play for the hometown team, was one of three defensive linemen added this offseason, joining former Jaguars starter Foley Fatukasi and Titans standout Denico Autry. Both
Since being drafted out of Tennessee in 2017, Barnett has totaled 169 career tackles, 24 sacks, 45 tackles for loss, and 87 quarterback hits.

Texans DE Danielle Hunter took less money to play in Houston, per report

The Houston Texans landed edge rusher Danielle Hunter despite a more lucrative offer from an AFC South rival.

Maybe edge rusher Danielle Hunter took a hometown discount after all.

The Indianapolis Colts offered Hunter more money to play for a different AFC South team, according to ESPN’s Stephen Holder before the veteran ultimately decided to take a two-year, $48 million deal with the Houston Texans.

Hunter is a Houston native who played high school in nearby Katy, Texas. He noted in his introductory press conference how his proximity to the Texans growing up played a role in shaping his NFL career. He idolized former No. 1 overall pick Mario Williams and later attended the Texans’ 2023 playoff game against the Cleveland Browns.

So while the Colts may have had a more lucrative offer on the table, Hunter appeared more excited to play in Houston with DeMeco Ryans as his head coach than play for a different AFC South team.

There has been talk all offseason that the Texans have become a destination for free agents. But this news is the first concrete example of that being true.

Hunter should form an explosive defensive line with NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson in 2024 and give Ryans some firepower to defend the AFC South title. He’ll also get to return home for the first time since being drafted in the third round by the Minnesota Vikings in 2015.

Texans’ Danielle Hunter signing called ‘boom or bust’ by PFF

The Houston Texans made a big signing with Danielle Hunter, one that could pay off or be a bust.

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.

Report: Colts offered Danielle Hunter more money than Texans

The Colts reportedly offered Danielle Hunter more money than the Texans.

The Indianapolis Colts haven’t done much in the way of adding outside players in free agency but in some cases, it wasn’t due to a lack of effort.

General manager Chris Ballard was in Orlando this week for the annual league meetings. He met with the media, discussing their moves in free agency among other topics.

Though Ballard didn’t admit it, ESPN’s Stephen Holder reported the Colts offered more money to defensive end Danielle Hunter before he signed a two-year, $49 million (with $48 million guaranteed) with the Houston Texans.

The Colts earnestly chased Vikings free agent pass-rusher Danielle Hunter, even offering him more money than the Houston Texans — a two-year, $49 million ($48 million guaranteed) deal — ultimately gave him, according to a team source.

However, the money wasn’t enough to lure the vaunted pass-rusher to Indy.

The internal moves the Colts made certainly will help both now and in the future. Locking up key players like Michael Pittman Jr., Grover Stewart and Kenny Moore II shouldn’t be overlooked.

However, fans have vented their frustrations as to the lack of moves the team has made.

Though it would have been nice to see Hunter join a defensive end room that helped break the franchise record for sacks in a single season, the Colts will be running it back with a solid room looking to continue its progression in Year 3 under Gus Bradley.

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Vikings give DL Jonah Williams a modest contract

The contract details for Minnesota Vikings DL Jonah Williams reveal a modest contract value.

Though the fanfare of the NFL’s free agency period has come and gone, there are still plenty of moves to be made and players to be signed. The Minnesota Vikings continue to make moves to fill out their roster, signing defensive lineman Jonah Williams last week to a one-year deal.

The specifics of that contract have now emerged, giving us a better idea of just how much the Vikings committed to their new signing. Williams signed a one-year deal worth $1.5 million. Included in that is a $1.1 million base salary with $250K guaranteed at signing. The deal also includes a $100K signing bonus and up to $275K in per-game bonuses and a $25K workout bonus.

Williams, originally an undrafted free agent out of Weber State, spent his first three seasons in Los Angeles with the Rams, where he worked his way into the starting lineup last season. Williams turned that starting opportunity into 49 tackles, two sacks, and four TFLs.

Williams now joins a Vikings defense that was one of the league’s best in 2023, but saw a lot of upheaval in free agency. Gone from the defense is Danielle Hunter, Marcus Davenport, Jordan Hicks, D.J. Wonnum, and Khyiris Tonga, among others. Williams is a small part in replacing those losses, but there’s more work to be done to fill out the roster.

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Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. was ‘jumping up and down’ after Danielle Hunter signed

No one was happier to see the Texans sign pass rusher Danielle Hunter more than reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr.

No one was more excited about the Houston Texans’ signing of edge rusher Danielle Hunter than his newest teammate: Will Anderson Jr.

The reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year told KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson he was “jumping up and down” with excitement after he heard the news.

“I was just jumping up and down. I was so excited because now teams gotta choose who they gotta double-team,” Anderson said. “He’s a great guy. He loves football. I can’t wait to learn from him and go out there and wreak havoc with him.”

Hunter brings eight years and 119 games of NFL experience to the Texans — information that could be critical for the development of Anderson in his second season.

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans hopes the pair of Hunter and Anderson can create one of the most explosive defensive line units in the NFL. Anderson finished the 2023 season seven sacks and 22 quarterback hits, while Hunter hit a career-high mark with 16.5 sacks and tied his career-best with 22 quarterback hits.

Anderson and Hunter will be the centerpieces of Ryans’ defense moving forward, but they aren’t the only pieces on the line. Houston also added defensive lineman Denico Autry, Mario Edwards, Tim Settle, Foley Fatukasi and re-signed Derek Barnett. Jonathan Greenard left for the Minnesota Vikings, Sheldon Rankins signed with the Cincinnati Bengals and Maleik Collins was traded to the San Francisco 49ers.

The Xs and Os with Greg Cosell: Wrapping up NFL free agency for 2024

2024 NFL free agency is just about in the books, so it’s time for Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar to analyze the biggest transactions in the second wave.

Now that most of NFL free agency for the 2024 league year is in the bag — though there are a few helpful players still on the open market — it’s time for Greg Cosell of NFL Films and ESPN’s NFL Matchup, and Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire, to recap the biggest and most important moves in the second wave of this free agency phase. Greg and Doug covered the first day of free agency last week in the Xs and Os; here’s the conclusion.

Among the discussion points:

  • What does Brian Burns bring to a Giants defensive line that already has Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence?
  • Can Justin Fields become the best version of himself in the Steelers’ offense?
  • Conversely, can Kenny Pickett turn his career around with the Eagles?
  • How can Calvin Ridley use his true X-Iso skill set to ramp up the Titans’ offense?
  • Can the Texans’ addition of Danielle Hunter, along with Will Anderson Jr. and Denico Autry, make Houston’s defensive line a Super Bowl-level group?
  • What can Hollywood Brown do for the Chiefs?
  • Tyron Smith is a future Hall of Famer, but what will he be able to do for the Jets’ offensive line in the short term?
  • Chase Young has been an inconsistent pass-rusher throughout his NFL career; can he turn it around with the Saints?
  • The Lions made important additions to their defensive line and their secondary; can all that put them over the top?
  • The Falcons already have a ton of weapons for new quarterback Kirk Cousins. How will the addition of receiver Rondale Moore affect what looks like one of like the NFL’s most explosive offenses (in theory, at least)?

You can watch this week’s “Xs and Os” right here:

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You can also listen and subscribe to the “Xs and Os” podcast on Spotify…

…and on Apple Podcasts.

The Commanders are ‘expected to be active’ in the edge rusher market

The Commanders need pass rushers and they should be very active in that market.

At this point one year ago, the Washington Commanders had just paid defensive tackle Daron Payne. That meant Washington had locked up defensive tackles Payne and Jonathan Allen into long-term deals.

Presumably, next up were defensive ends Montez Sweat and Chase Young.

Things didn’t go as predicted, and Washington ended up trading both of its star defensive ends at the NFL trade deadline in October. The Commanders’ previous staff always wanted to lock up Sweat, but when the Chicago Bears offered what ended up being the No. 40 overall pick, it was too good of an offer to turn down.

Washington shipped Young to the 49ers for a pick at the end of the third round.

Now, the Commanders need help at edge rusher.

The good news for Washington is that it has plenty of cap room. According to Over the Cap, the Commanders have around $80 million in effective salary cap space.

While general manager Adam Peters has made it clear Washington will build through the draft, the Commanders have many needs and money to spend. According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler, the Commanders are “expected to be active in the edge rusher market.”

Graziano specifically mentions the Seahawks and Colts, along with Washington, as the three teams to watch. However, every NFL team is always looking for a pass rush. Danielle Hunter of the Minnesota Vikings is the top edge rusher, but don’t expect Washington to be in the mix for him.

Players to watch for the Commanders are Jonathan Greenard (Texans), Dorance Armstrong (Cowboys), Bryce Huff (Jets) and Dante Fowler Jr. (Cowboys). It wouldn’t be a shock if head coach Dan Quinn brings both of his former proteges from Dallas with him to Washington.

Peters and Quinn will be looking for the right fit for the Commanders, not necessarily the top of the market. That doesn’t just go for edge rushers, but other positions, too.

Report: Giants unwilling to spend top dollar for premier edge rushers

The New York Giants want to add a quality edge rusher in free agency but are reportedly unwilling to spend top dollar at the position.

The New York Giants will enter free agency in “desperate” need of quality edge rushers to pair with Kayvon Thibodeaux and one potential target is Danielle Hunter.

Earlier this month, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reported that the Giants had eyes on Hunter in addition to some impending free agent guards.

Detroit Lions left guard Jonah Jackson and Minnesota Vikings pass rusher Danielle Hunter, in particular, are among the top-tier free agents at those positions that the Giants like, sources at the NFL Combine say.

The issue facing general manager Joe Schoen is that Hunter is a top-of-the-market free agent and will likely command a significant contract.

With limited money to spend, the Giants may have to allocate their resources elsewhere.

ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reports that despite the Giants’ needs (and wants) at the position, they are unlikely to spend what is required to land a premier pass rusher and that essentially takes Hunter — and some others — off the table.

The Giants desperately want to add at edge rusher. They’re going to monitor the top of the market (i.e., Danielle Hunter) but aren’t really looking to spend in that range, one source told ESPN at the combine.

Raanan notes that there are several second-tier options available, including one that has been previously linked to the Giants — Bryce Huff.

But there are a lot of quality, starting-caliber options, such as A.J. Epenesa, Bryce Huff, Andrew Van Ginkel, Josh Uche and Leonard Floyd, a player the Giants have long coveted. That’s more likely the path they travel in free agency.

Schoen will have to make do with what he’s got and determine if the offensive line or defensive line is a bigger priority.

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CBS Sports predicts Chicago Bears to land Danielle Hunter

The Minnesota Vikings lose EDGE Danielle Hunter to a division rival in the latest free agency prediction from CBS Sports.

The defense played a large part in the Minnesota Vikings‘ success in 2023, and OLB Danielle Hunter was arguably the most important piece on the defense last season. Hunter led the league, and set a new team record, in tackles for loss and set a new career high in sacks with 16.5. Hunter is a free agent and certainly earned a new contract, but who will be the team to pay up?

According to Cody Benjamin at CBS Sports, Hunter should have a healthy market in free agency, with Benjamin predicting the Bears, Buccaneers, Lions, Rams, and Texans all having interest in the star EDGE rusher. Ultimately, Benjamin has the Bears winning the sweepstakes and giving Hunter a 3-year, $67.5 million deal. Here’s what Benjamin had to say about his prediction:

So here’s our prediction: Hunter signs a three-year, $67.5 million deal with the Chicago Bears. Windy City gets a physical sidekick for Sweat along a bolstered defensive front, while also restocking the offense through both the draft and free agency. And Hunter gets one of the best paydays of his career with a chance to stay in the Midwest and face his old squad.

Losing Hunter would be a tough pill for the Vikings to swallow. Hunter has been an integral part of the Vikings defense for years, and has been incredibly productive during his time in Minnesota. Losing Hunter to a division rival would make that loss even tougher.

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