After spending eight seasons of his career with the Minnesota Vikings, Danielle Hunter finally opted for a new team this offseason. The four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher has signed a lucrative deal with the Houston Texans, which will be his new home for the upcoming season.
However, recent reports indicate that there was one team that offered him even more money than the contract he signed with the Texans.
Danielle Hunter allegedly received a greater Colts deal
ESPN’s Stephen Holder reported that the Indianapolis Colts were interested in signing Danielle Hunter. They were so adamant about this decision that they even offered more money to the 29-year-old than Texans did.
“The Colts earnestly chased Vikings free agent pass-rusher Danielle Hunter, even offering him more money than the Houston Texans,” the source reported.
Yet Hunter decided to sign with the Texans and didn’t choose the Colts, who were financially a better option for him. Now, it will be interesting to watch Hunter play against the Colts, as he will face them twice in the upcoming season.
After the Colts failed to sign Danielle Hunter, they made some other smart moves which included signing Kenny Moore and Michael Pittman Jr. The team has still not worked on the pass rush area; probably they have left it for the NFL Draft.
Hunter would have been a great addition to the Colts’ defensive end room and helped break the franchise record for sacks in a single season. But the 29-year-old decided to move to the Texans, where he also got a lucrative contract for the next two years.
What is Danielle Hunter’s current Texans contract?
Danielle Hunter has signed a two-year deal with the Houston Texans, which is worth $49 million with $48 million in guaranteed money. This lucrative contract was expected, and Hunter deserves it. He has been an impeccable player, reaching the Pro Bowl in four of the past five seasons and giving his best in the 2023 season.
The 29-year-old spent eight seasons with the Vikings, who are looking for a new QB and last season could be considered the best season of his career. He totaled a career-high 16.5 sacks, 83 combined tackles, and four forced fumbles, as well as an NFL-best 23 tackles for loss.
Danielle Hunter has racked up five 10-plus sack seasons and has been part of four Minnesota playoff teams. His exceptional football prowess was the reason why so many teams showed interest in him in free agency.
But the pass rusher chose the Houston Texans and will be a veteran companion to Will Anderson on the defensive line of the team. He is expected to grow more with his new team with a strong roster and talented coach.
Hopefully, choosing the Texans over the Colts will prove to be the right decision for Danielle Hunter.
