Feb. 19, 2026, 5:11 p.m. CT

Pro Football Focus hasn’t always been kind to the Houston Texans, but they seem to be turning over a new chapter with the emergence of several young and promising foundational pieces.

PFF recently finished its top 101 players list for the 2025 season, naming the best players based on their metrics and on-field play. While players like cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and defensive end Will Anderson Jr. have yet to be named, that doesn’t mean they won’t land in the top 25 when the list is released next week.

All-Pro defensive end Danielle Hunter found his way into the top 101, ranking No. 26 overall ahead of defensive back Kamari Lassiter (No.55), wide receiver Nico Collins (No. 50) and safety Jalen Pitre (No. 35). In two years with the Texans, Hunter has put together a Hall of Fame-worthy resume, serving as the No. 1 force and anchor of the front seven for DeMeco Ryans’ defense.

“Hunter continues to play peak football as he grows older. Now 31, he was unblockable for virtually the entire season en route to a career-high 89.9 PFF overall grade, a 90.8 PFF pass-rushing grade and 92 pressures generated,” PFF wrote. “His 20.0% pass-rush win rate ranked fifth among qualified edge defenders, and he tallied at least three pressures in all but three games.”

Since joining the Texans in 2024, Hunter has put up at least 12 sacks, 21 tackles for loss and 30 QB hits. Last season, he was overshadowed by the impact and growth of Anderson that most people forget he led the team with 15, the third-most behind only the New York Giants’ Brian Burns and Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns.

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The 2026 season could be his last in Houston if the Texans don’t agree to a new deal with him this offseason, but his impact has been felt around NRG Stadium. At 31, there’s a legit possibility that so long as his body holds, Hunter could finish top 10 all-time in sacks.

Averaging 13.5 sacks per season, should Hunter hit that total next year, he’d rank inside the top 20. In two years with that total, it would place him just outside the top 10 entering his age 34 season.