At the 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis last week, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on the ongoing contract negotiations between the Houston Texans and their 2023 No. 1 overall pick, All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr.
“Deals come together when they come together, and a lot of times, these happen later in the spring,” Rapoport said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if this one happens at some point in the relatively near future. Mainly because what the Houston Texans have done and what [general manager] Nick Caserio and [head coach] DeMeco Ryans have established is a team that takes care of their stars. Every negotiation is a battle, but if you look at what the Texans have done, they have paid their guy.”
Rapoport added, “They make it a priority to reward the guys who should be rewarded. You look across that defense, and they’ve got a lot of guys who are really good [and] who are going to make a lot of money. I would expect Will Anderson to be first, and I would expect him to be very, very worth it.”
While Anderson Jr. will almost assuredly reset the market soon enough, he was not the first Texan to cash in big this offseason.
On Thursday night, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that the Texans and 31-year-old defensive end Danielle Hunter agreed to a one-year, $40.1 million contract extension, including a $30.7 million signing bonus.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz additionally reported that the contract is fully guaranteed. “Hunter has been on fully guaranteed money with Houston since arriving in 2024, totaling $124.7 million, and this deal takes him to over $218 million in career earnings,” Schultz wrote.
Anderson Jr. and Hunter have formed an unstoppable pass rush duo since Hunter signed with Houston in March 2024. Before that, the five-time Pro Bowler had been with the Minnesota Vikings since the team drafted him in the third round in 2015. Hunter has 114.5 career sacks. He has recorded double-digit sacks in seven of his 10 NFL seasons, including 12 in 2024 and 15 in 2025 with the Texans.
The 12-5 Texans’ defense was Super Bowl-caliber last season, which made quarterback C.J. Stroud’s four-interception performance in a 28-16 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional round all the more haunting. Houston ranked first in yards per game (277.2), second in points per game (17.4), and third in turnovers (29). The good news is, the same defensive core will be there in 2026, and they figure to be even nastier.
