Trading for Stefon Diggs may have been the big ticket item for the Houston Texans this offseason. However, they also made a couple of significant additions to their defensive line in free agency.
Danielle Hunter comes to Houston from Minnesota, where he made four Pro Bowl teams and racked up 87.5 sacks over the last eight seasons. Hunter signed a two-year deal worth a total of $49 million. The highly-underrated Denico Autry is also joining the Texans, fresh off a career-high 11.5 sacks in the 2023 campaign. Autry signed for three years and $21.5 million.
Hunter and Autry are excellent defensive linemen in their own right, but odds are they will both be outshined by Will Anderson Jr., the No. 3 overall pick from the 2023 draft class who just won Defensive Rookie of the Year.
On top of his prodigious physical talent, Anderson has a remarkably high football IQ for a player with his experience. Watch Autry and Hunter raving about how well Anderson understands the playbook and how he's helping them learn Houston's defense.
The vets are impressed.
— Drew Dougherty (@DoughertyDrew) June 26, 2024
D-Linemen Denico Autry & Danielle Hunter on 2nd-yr DE Will Anderson, Jr. pic.twitter.com/tirwwlohCb
Along with their fourth projected starter Foley Fatukasi, the Texans have a couple of well-seasoned backups, including Mario Edwards and Derek Barnett. Despite losing Jonathan Greenard to the Vikings (four years, $76 million) this group should make for one of the best defensive lines in the AFC.
