Do Newly Signed Edge Rushers Make Texans Free Agency 'Winner'?

Are the Houston Texans considered free agency "winners" with the addition of newly signed edge rushers?

The Houston Texans made a splash in free agency with the acquisition of Danielle Hunter on a two-year, $49 million deal, boasting an impressive $48 million guaranteed. 

Hunter brings a solid track record, including 16.5 sacks last season and four double-digit sack seasons in his recent career.

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According to PFF, the addition of Hunter and other edge rushers like Denico Autry and Foley Fatukasi the Houston Texans as winners in this year's free agency.

"Edge defender Danielle Hunter is a short-term upgrade over Greenard," said PFF. "He is coming off a season in which he racked up 80 total pressures from 614 pass-rushing snaps and set a career-high with 50 defensive stops. Pairing him with Will Anderson Jr., who racked up 68 total pressures and earned a 76.6 pass-rushing grade."

Anderson notched four sacks in his final six games and now the Texans boast one of the league's most dangerous pass-rushing duos. Last season, the team accumulated 46 sacks, and with Hunter's addition, they're poised to surpass the 50-sack mark in 2024.

"They also added a nice rotational player to that edge group in Denico Autry and are reuniting former Tennessee Titans and San Francisco 49ers linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair with his former defensive coordinator in Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans," says PFF. 

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After a stint with Tennessee, Autry is set to join Houston on a two-year deal, valued at $10 million with $10.5 million guaranteed, according to multiple reports. The 33-year-old had a standout season in 2023, with a career-high 11.5 sacks, along with 12 tackles for loss and 17 quarterback hits, while playing 67 percent of the team's defensive snaps across all 17 games with 14 starts.

Elsewhere on the defense, Houston secured linebacker Al-Shaair on Monday with a three-year deal worth $34 million, as reported by NFL Network. 

Previously with the Tennessee Titans, he signed a one-year, $5 million contract last year, stepping into a starting role after serving as a backup for the San Francisco 49ers. 

Al-Shaair played a crucial role for the Titans, leading the defense with a career-high 163 tackles, along with two sacks and four passes defended. Despite facing injuries, he started all 17 games and emerged as a veteran leader in the locker room during a challenging season for Tennessee.

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