Offensive lines beware: the NFL’s fiercest pass-rushing tandem is staying together for another year.
The Houston Texans have agreed to a one-year, $40.1 million extension with edge rusher Danielle Hunter, per multiple reports. Hunter signed a two-year deal with the Texans in the 2024 free agent period and a one-year extension last offseason.
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This latest deal keeps him with Houston through 2027.
Hunter, 31, was a second-team All-Pro last season for the second time in his 10-year career. He racked up 15 sacks across from Will Anderson Jr. – his fourth season with double-digit sacks.
With Hunter and Anderson up front and cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. leading the way in the secondary, Houston had the second-best scoring defense in the NFL in 2025. Anderson and Stingley were first-team All-Pros in addition to Hunter’s second-team appearance.
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Hunter hit 100 career sacks in 2025 with his two sacks in Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His 114.5 career sacks are sixth among active players behind Von Miller (138.5), Cameron Jordan (132), Myles Garrett (125.5), Calais Campbell (117) and T.J. Watt (115).
Hunter was drafted in the third round, No. 88 overall out of LSU by the Minnesota Vikings in 2015. He spent nine years with the Vikings and played eight seasons for the team, missing the entire 2020 season recovering from neck surgery.
He’s led the Texans in sacks each season with the team.
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
2. New York Jets – OLB/DE David Bailey, Texas Tech
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
3. Arizona Cardinals – OLB/DE Arvell Reese, Ohio State
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
4. Tennessee Titans – RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
5. New York Giants – LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
6. Cleveland Browns – OL Francis Mauigoa, Miami (Fla.)
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
7. Washington Commanders – S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
8. New Orleans Saints – WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
9. Kansas City Chiefs – CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
10. Cincinnati Bengals – DE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Fla.)
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
11. Miami Dolphins – OT Spencer Fano, Utah
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
12. Dallas Cowboys – CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – WR Denzel Boston, Washington
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
14. Baltimore Ravens – DL Caleb Banks, Florida
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – WR Makai Lemon, USC
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
17. Detroit Lions – OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
18. Minnesota Vikings – S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
19. Carolina Panthers – DT Peter Woods, Clemson
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers) – OLB/DE T.J. Parker, Clemson
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
22. Los Angeles Chargers – G Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
23. Philadelphia Eagles – DE/OLB Akheem Mesidor, Miami (Fla.)
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) – WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
25. Chicago Bears – S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
26. Buffalo Bills – WR Malachi Fields, Notre Dame
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
27. San Francisco 49ers – Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
28. Houston Texans – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
29. Kansas City Chiefs (from Los Angeles Rams) – Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
30. Denver Broncos – WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
31. New England Patriots – DE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
32. Seattle Seahawks – RB Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
Danielle Hunter contract details
Hunter and the Texans agreed to an extra year on his current deal.
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Total amount: $40.1 million
Danielle Hunter career earnings
Hunter’s been paid well to rush the passer for the last decade. Here’s his career earnings, per OverTheCap:
Total earnings: $186,091,224
Career annual average value (AAV): $16,917,384
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Danielle Hunter contract details: Texans, DE agree to extension