ESPN Places Houston Texans Defensive Star Among Top Edge Players for 2024 Season

A career year has one of the newest Texans highly-regarded around the league.

Nov 27, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Danielle Hunter (99) warms up before the game against the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports / Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The Houston Texans made several significant changes this offseason, and the results show that the franchise is entering the 2024 season with championship aspirations. Trading for wide receiver Stefon Diggs was the most significant acquisition the Texans made. However, signing free agent Danielle Hunter was just as impressive.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN recently surveyed NFL executives, coaches and personnel members to determine the league's top-10 EDGE rushers entering the 2024 season. The results led to Hunter entering the 2024 campaign as the seventh-best player at the position.

READ MORE: Texans Strengthen Defense by Signing Veteran Defensive End

Hunter signed a two-year deal worth $49 million, $48 million guaranteed, to join the Texans in March. The All-Pro pass rusher recorded a career-best 16.5 sacks during his final season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2023. After entering the league as a third-round pick by the Vikings in 2015 (No. 88 overall), Hunter has registered 87.5 career sacks.

Hunter will create arguably the league's best defensive line duo, playing alongside Will Anderson Jr., who NFL executives, coaches, and personnel members voted as an honorable mention.

The only players ranked ahead of Hunter were Myles Garrett (Cleveland Browns), T.J. Watt (Pittsburgh Steelers), Micah Parsons (Dallas Cowboys), Nick Bosa (San Francisco), Maxx Crosby (Las Vegas), and Aidan Hutchinson (Detroit Lions).

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