NFL Rumors: Danielle Hunter Turned Down Bigger Contract from Colts Before Texans Deal
Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRT
Featured Columnist IVMarch 27, 2024
The Indianapolis Colts largely focused on retaining their own free agents this offseason, bringing back players like wideout Michael Pittman Jr., cornerback Kenny Moore II, nose tackle Grover Stewart, linebacker Zaire Franklin and defensive lineman Tyquan Lewis.
But one external player they did chase took a slight discount to join the division-rival Houston Texans—edge-rusher Danielle Hunter.
According to ESPN's Stephen Holder, the Colts "earnestly chased" the former Minnesota Vikings pass-rusher, "even offering him more money than the Texans—a two-year, $49 million ($48 million guaranteed) deal—ultimately gave him, according to a team source."
That perhaps shouldn't come as the biggest surprise. The Texans appear a bit further along in their rebuild after going 10-7 last year, winning the AFC South and beating the Cleveland Browns in the postseason behind Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud.
The defensive system run by head coach DeMeco Ryans and Matt Burke helped Jonathan Greenard (12.5 sacks) post a career year, which he turned into a four-year, $76 million contract with the Vikings this offseason.
Hunter will now pair with ascending young pass-rusher Will Anderson Jr. (seven sacks last season) to give the Texans a nasty one-two punch off the edge.
"I was jumping up and down, man, because I was so excited," Anderson told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston. "Now teams have to choose who they are going to double-team. ... He's a great guy. He loves football, man. I can't wait to go out there and (wreak) havoc with him."
Aaron Wilson @AaronWilson_NFLGALVESTON -- <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Texans</a> defensive end Will Anderson Jr. <a href="https://twitter.com/will_anderson28?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@will_anderson28</a> at Carnival Gulf Breeze event with Big Brothers Big Sisters chapter on addition of Danielle Hunter in free agency <a href="https://twitter.com/KPRC2?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KPRC2</a> <a href="https://t.co/tfZBNZgZCv">pic.twitter.com/tfZBNZgZCv</a>
The Colts, meanwhile, will be hoping that the combination of Samson Ebukam (9.5 sacks), Kwity Paye (8.5 sacks), Dayo Odeyingbo (eight sacks) and DeForest Buckner (eight sacks) will continue getting after the quarterback consistently. Lewis (four sacks) taking another jump this season would aid in that quest.
Hunter, who had 16.5 sacks last year and has posted five seasons with double-digit sacks in his career, would have undoubtedly been an upgrade. But the Colts were fifth in the NFL sacks last season (51) and appear solid in that regard, so losing out on him isn't devastating (outside of having to face him twice a season now).