“He looks like a robot, a new Transformer, Terminator,’ Texans pass rusher Danielle Hunter dominant against Steelers

PITTSBURGH – Danielle Hunter bolted around Pittsburgh Steelers rookie offensive tackle Troy Fautanu, bending his body to redirect his charge once he had escaped the grasp of the first-round draft pick.

It was a total mismatch as the Texans’ veteran Pro Bowl pass rusher crashed into Steelers quarterback Justin Fields for his first sack since joining the defending AFC South champions.

Hunter is a sculpted 6-foot-5, 263 pounds with softball-sized biceps and the body fat percentage of a track athlete. His physique isn’t all that makes him a rare and prototypical defensive end. Hunter’s speed, technique, power and repertoire of moves practically makes him unblockable. And teammates like linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair marvel over his gifts as a football player so much that Hunter is piling up nicknames, including Transformer and Terminator.

“I think he did great,” Al-Shaair said. “It’s so funny because I was like, ‘Good job, good way to start it, you got a sack,’ and he’s like, ‘I almost got him on the first play.’ And I’m like, ‘I saw, I’m just saying good job on the sack ' He’s a great player, a great pro. Me and him chop it up all the time. I learn so much from him.

“How to take care of your body, obviously. He looks like a robot. There’s rumors going around right now that he’s a new Transformer or something. Yeah, Terminator. Great player, has had a great career. He started off right where he left off last year, having another great year.”

A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Hunter, a Katy native and Morton Ranch graduate, signed a two-year, $49 million contract with $48 million fully guaranteed during free agency.

The deal has a maximum value of $51 million for the former Minnesota Vikings standout. The deal includes a $21 million signing bonus, fully guaranteed salaries of $8 million and $19 million, an annual $29,412 per game active roster bonus and a $1 million annual Pro Bowl incentive.

The Texans’ investment is already paying dividends.

“I was just going through the game plan,” Hunter said in typical low-key fashion. “It was third down, just going through my fundamentals, just taking the edge. It wasn’t anything too crazy.

“I feel like the biggest thing was getting the rust off, running to the football applying the fundamentals to our game plan.”

Multiple NFL teams, including the Indianapolis Colts, were intrigued by Hunter, one of the most athletic pass rushers in the NFL. Ultimately, the defending AFC South champion Texans made the strongest bid as Hunter joined his hometown team.

Hunter was replaced in Minnesota by former Texans defensive end Jonathan Greenard as he has agreed to a four-year, $76 million contract with a $19 million average and $42 million guaranteed. Now, Hunter replaces Greenard in Houston.

Hunter, 29, has 87 1/2 career sacks and 462 tackles with 108 tackles for losses and 134 quarterback hits. He has 11 forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries with two touchdowns.

A native of Jamaica, Hunter had 30 quarterback pressures, 11 tackles for losses and four sacks. At 6-foot-6, 225 pounds, Hunter won the district championship in the high jump and was sixth in the 400-meter dash. He played collegiately at LSU.

At the NFL scouting combine, Hunter ran the 40-yard dash in 4.57 seconds and had a 36 1/2 inch vertical leap and bench pressed 225 pounds 25 times.

“Defensively, seeing Danielle step up and get after the quarterback is why we got him here, to get after the quarterback, and that’s what he showed in his limited snaps,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “But he did a really great job of getting after the quarterback, being disruptive up front that’s what we expected. Excited to see what Danielle did”

Hunter recorded 83 tackles last season, 23 tackles for losses and 22 quarterback hits.

With the additions of Hunter and Denico Autry, who will miss the first six games after being suspended for testing positive for a banned substance, the Texans’ defensive line is loaded along with the presence of NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr.

“For a guy that is that long and explosive you almost have to change your perspective,” Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke said of Hunter. “’It’s like he is so explosive, he covers so much ground his first two steps that is sometimes doesn’t even look like he is launching out and then you pause the tape, and he is four yards in the backfield.

“He has done it for a long time, obviously he is very natural at doing that and rushing. The ground that he can cover and the length he has from an extension standpoint it is pretty special, he is pretty unique, so I am excited for him to keep going for sure.”

Mario Edwards Jr., who has replaced Autry in the starting lineup, had a big game, too.

He recorded five tackles, a half-sack, two tackles for losses and one quarterback hit.

“Mario has been disruptive all camp, and I wouldn’t have expected anything different from him,” Ryans said. “He showed up today, playing on their side of the line of scrimmage and being disruptive. That’s what we need from all our guys up front. I’m very pleased what Mario did tonight.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.