3:41pm: The Colts are also in the Hunter market, according to ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder. Not known for big-ticket spending on outside FAs, Indy also saw progress from homegrown DEs Kwity Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo last season. Samson Ebukam remains under contract as well. But the team, which did once add Justin Houston in free agency, is looking into what it will cost to bring Hunter to Indianapolis.
2:11pm: The Texans may be eyeing what would amount to an edge rusher swap with the Vikings. After Jonathan Greenard committed to Minnesota early in the legal tampering period, Houston is eyeing the player Greenard is likely set to replace.
Mutual interest exists between the Texans and Danielle Hunter, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reports. While no signing is imminent, the Texans have lost a key starter. Greenard led Houston with 12.5 sacks last season, providing a quality bookend for Will Anderson. Although Chase Young is available, Hunter has a more extensive track record of sack production.
This is Hunter’s first run in free agency. The youngest player in NFL history to reach 50 sacks, Hunter soon signed what became a team-friendly Vikings extension. That 2018 agreement became a source of tension for Hunter, and the Vikings reached multiple reworkings with their impact sack artist. While injuries interrupted Hunter during the early part of this decade, he has returned to form over the past two seasons. That included a 16.5-sack 2023.
Hunter, 29, led the NFL with 23 tackles for loss last season. He drew trade interest at the deadline, though with Greenard on the team at that point, the Texans were not on the radar. With Greenard heading to the Twin Cities and Bryce Huff (Eagles), Leonard Floyd (49ers), Za’Darius Smith (Browns) and Dorance Armstrong (Cowboys) committed elsewhere, Texans interest in Hunter adds up. With a rookie QB contract on the books, Houston has a chance to add a big name opposite Anderson. But options are dwindling.
The Texans have not waded into the deep waters of this year’s market, despite the opportunity Stroud and Anderson’s rookie contracts present. They have agreed to terms with Denico Autry and Azeez Al-Shaair on midlevel deals, however, bolstering DeMeco Ryans‘ defense. Hunter would act as a bigger needle-moving presence, having reeled off five double-digit sack seasons in his prolific nine-year Vikings run. An outside linebacker over the past two years, Hunter also spent six seasons as a 4-3 defensive end in Mike Zimmer‘s scheme.
Colts need to make a splash play like this. They aren’t know to do it but they need to throw a little cash every once in awhile.