During this still relatively early offseason, the Minnesota Vikings have been highly active in free agency, spending a significant amount of money. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell committed to strengthening the trenches, and they delivered on both sides of the ball within the first 24 hours of the free agency negotiating window.
On defense, their primary focus has been bolstering the interior defensive line. This follows their approach from the previous offseason when they prioritized edge rushers, signing Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel from the 2024 free agent class. Both acquisitions played a key role in the Vikings’ unexpected success last season.
However, before assembling their revamped 2024 defense, the team had to part ways with star pass rusher Danielle Hunter. Drafted and developed by Minnesota, Hunter became one of the league’s premier 4-3 defensive ends.
Rather than offering Hunter a new contract, the Vikings allowed him to sign with his hometown team, the Houston Texans, on a two-year, $49 million deal. Hunter quickly proved to be worth the investment, starting all 17 games and finishing his debut season in Houston with 12 sacks, 46 tackles (17 for loss), and a career-best 23 quarterback hits.
This marked the third consecutive season in which Hunter played every game, a significant feat given his prior injury concerns. In his final year with the Vikings in 2023, he posted career highs in sacks (16.5), tackles (83), tackles for loss (23), and forced fumbles (4), performances that ultimately helped him secure his lucrative contract with the Texans.
Danielle Hunter cashing in after leaving Minnesota Vikings
But now, the Texans are ripping up last year’s contract, in exchange for a much bigger 2025 payday. Now, the 30-year-old LSU alum — who is coming off another Pro Bowl selection — will make $32 million this season and $54.1M fully guaranteed. His new deal makes Hunter the second-highest paid defensive end in the league, per Tom Pelissero (NFL Network).
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The one-year contract extension is certainly impressive. Among defensive ends, only Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders earns more than Danielle Hunter. This new deal not only extends his contract but also adds more guaranteed money.
When discussing the league’s top edge rushers, Hunter’s name is impossible to overlook. For Minnesota Vikings fans, he was part of a storied lineage of elite defensive ends, following in the footsteps of Carl Eller, Jared Allen, and Everson Griffen.
As the Houston Texans aim to build on their progress this season, head coach DeMeco Ryans will be relying heavily on his key players to step up once again. Hunter has been selected to the Pro Bowl in five of the six seasons in which he has started at least 16 games and currently sits at 99.5 career sacks.
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