HOUSTON — The Houston Texans addressed the media Thursday afternoon after the start of NFL free agency saw them bolster their roster with several additions.
The headliner of the recent acquisitions is Katy native, Danielle Hunter, who signed as an unrestricted free agent after spending his whole career as an edge rusher with the Minnesota Vikings. Hunter, who starred at Morton Ranch High School, agreed to a two-year, $49 million deal with all but $1 million of it guaranteed, according to a report from the Associated Press.
Hunter, a four-time Pro-Bowler, is coming off a career-best 16 1/2 sacks last season for Minnesota. He’s reached double digits in sacks five times in eight years.
He is expected to team with Will Anderson Jr., the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, to form one of the most formidable edge-rushing combos in the league.
Hunter was not the only addition on defense. The team also signed linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and defensive lineman Denico Autry. Both veteran defenders played last season with Houston’s AFC South rival, the Tennessee Titans.
Al-Shaair is a five-year veteran who spent his first four seasons playing for current Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans when he served as defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers.
Autry is an 11-year veteran who has had stints with the Raiders and Colts before spending the last three seasons with Tennessee.
These three additions are expected to shore up a defensive front seven that was a high priority mentioned by Ryans at the end of the season.
Watch the Texans full press conference here:
The Texans did say goodbye to some members of their defense when defensive end Jonathan Greenard signed with the Vikings as an unrestricted free agent and the team traded defensive tackle Maliek Collins to the 49ers. The Texans also lost linebacker Blake Cashman to the Vikings as well.
The Texans also made some moves to help star quarterback and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, C.J. Stroud. First, the team resigned tight end Dalton Schultz to a three-year deal worth a reported $36 million and then traded for veteran running back Joe Mixon.
Mixon, who was brought over from the Cincinnati Bengals, replaces Devon Singletary, who signed as a free agent with the New York Giants.
Mixon led the Bengals last season with 1,034 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. Cincinnati planned to release him after agreeing on a contract with running back Zack Moss on Monday. Instead, the Texans sent a draft pick to the Bengals to keep Mixon off the open market.
The Texans reportedly gave up a seventh-round draft pick for Mixon, but then recouped it when they dealt Collins to San Francisco.
The Texans also addressed their special teams with the addition of punter Tommy Townsend from the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs. He reportedly agreed to a two-year, $6 million deal.