In the weeks leading up to the NFL draft, the Minnesota Vikings have had no shortage of intriguing storylines.
The Vikings are coming off a 13-4 season, cut multiple fan favorites, and may be looking for a quarterback to replace Kirk Cousins. Za’Darius Smith said goodbye to Minnesota but is still on the roster, and Dalvin Cook’s future is uncertain despite undergoing shoulder surgery.
It’s a wild time to be a Vikings fan, but there’s one storyline that nobody talks about – Danielle Hunter’s future.
Just a few years ago, Hunter was a pillar of the Vikings’ defense. He was the fastest player in NFL history to 50 sacks and one of the league’s top edge rushers. Hunter’s contract was a ridiculous bargain, and his next deal was rising to the point Rick Spielman had to re-work it before the 2021 season.
Things have changed leading up to the draft. Hunter lost a full season due to a neck injury in 2020 and missed the final eight games with a torn pectoral muscle in 2021. Although he played in all 17 games last season, Ed Donatell didn’t properly use him in his defense.
This leads to one of the most compelling decisions of the offseason. Will the Vikings pay up and give Hunter one last contract? Or do his age and ability not fit with their timeline?
Like most decisions this offseason, this one revolves around money. Hunter signed a five-year, $72 million extension before the 2018 season but quickly outplayed his contract. While the Vikings rewarded players like Adam Thielen and Eric Kendricks for their outstanding play, Hunter’s contract remained untouched as Minnesota pushed against the salary cap.
Meanwhile, the value of edge rushers skyrocketed and Hunter wanted to get paid. With no money to give him, the Vikings pushed $5.6 million of the money he was due in 2021 as a signing bonus and created an $18 million roster bonus due the fifth day of the 2022 league year.
The re-worked contract was a bandage for a win-or-get-fired ultimatum in 2021. When Spielman and Mike Zimmer ended up taking the second path, Hunter’s roster bonus made him a popular cap casualty. Instead, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah opted to pay the roster bonus and have Hunter play in what was a prove-it year.
The plan worked. Hunter turned in his best year since 2019. He ranked second on the Vikings with 10.5 sacks and ranked sixth among edge rushers with 70 quarterback pressures according to Pro Football Focus.
These are numbers that Hunter can take to any negotiating table and point out that he wasn’t playing to his strengths in Donatell’s defense. If he can put up these numbers when he doesn’t know what he’s doing, imagine what could happen if he played in a defense that allowed him to do what he does best?
This has Hunter looking at recent edge-rusher contracts like a menu at Manny’s. At 28 years old, Hunter could point at the six-year, $120 million contract Von Miller signed with the Buffalo Bills at age 34 and say, I’ll have that, please.
He could also look at the six-year, $110 million contract that Bradley Chubb signed with the Miami Dolphins. Chubb is one year younger than Hunter and has played in 57 games compared to Hunter’s 102. However, Chubb also has 28.5 sacks to Hunter’s 71 sacks and ranked 26th among edge rushers with 51 pressures last season.
Compare this to Hunter’s $4.9 million base salary for next season, and it’s understandable why he might believe he deserves to be rewarded. But it also puts the ball in the Vikings’ court.
The Vikings have spent most of this offseason moving on from players over the age of 30 and replacing them with players in their mid-20s. Thielen, Kendricks and potentially Smith have been casualties to this point of the offseason. But despite being in his late 20s, Hunter could be on that cliff.
Giving Hunter a large contract would put more money on the books for the 2024 season and beyond. That doesn’t seem like a big deal because the Vikings have $59.3 million in cap space for next season according to Over The Cap. Still, the team’s timeline may be what does Hunter in.
A four-year deal would cover Hunter through his age-32 season and would put the Vikings in the same mess they had at the beginning of the offseason. With regression likely to hit a team that made eight fourth-quarter comebacks and faces a first-place schedule, it might be another year or two before the Vikings are able to put together a 13-win season like they did last year.
With Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson likely to cut into that cap number by the time 2024 hits and Christian Darrisaw demanding another large chunk, there might not be enough money for Hunter. Therefore, he could be trade bait entering into the draft. The Vikings have handcuffed their flexibility heading into this year’s draft, but Hunter could be the one trade chip that commands a significant return.
One trade the Vikings can look at is the deal that sent 31-year-old Khalil Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers last offseason. The Bears were able to get a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 sixth-round pick in return, which would definitely be appealing to Minnesota, who only have five picks in the upcoming draft.
On the high end, the Vikings could look at Miami’s trade to acquire Chubb. The Dolphins gave the Denver Broncos a 2023 first-round pick, a 2024 fourth-round pick, and running back Chase Edmonds in that deal. They also got a 2025 fifth-rounder back from the Broncos.
While Hunter’s injury history may play a role in any deal, there’s a good chance Hunter’s value lies somewhere between these two deals. While the need to give him a massive contract may also play a role, it didn’t stop the Miami Dolphins, who gave Chubb an extension that helped create this mess.
It creates another chapter in what’s been an important offseason for the Vikings. While giving up Hunter along with Smith and Cook would signal a fire sale, it might be what they need to create flexibility for 2024 and beyond.
