As the Minnesota Vikings front office looks to further facilitate the vision they have for the team, they must decide if Danielle Hunter is an integral piece of the next core. Hunter has had ongoing contractual disagreements with the team, and while he’s a powerful edge rusher when healthy, he will be 29 by midseason. OverTheCap values him at $19.4 million, and the Vikings are only due to pay him $5 million in 2023.
Hunter racked up 12 sacks and finished fourth in total pressures at the edge position even though Ed Donatell probably misused him in his first full season since 2019. Therefore, his trade value may be at its peak after a dominant return from two seasons where injuries plagued him.
Hunter’s efficiency this year was a far cry from past years, despite lining up across from Za’Darius Smith, the best edge rusher the Vikings have paired him with in his career. He had an unusually quiet start to the season, only coming on when opponents silenced Za’Darius Smith over the last half of the season. Hunter played especially well in “clutch moments,” leading the league in third- and fourth-down stops.
The idea of Hunter experiencing a late-20s return to glory is not at all improbable, considering his talent. However, with the injury issues he’s experienced, it may not be beneficial for the Vikings to commit to a multi-year deal with him, and Hunter is likely seeking security with his next contract.
Hunter’s future is also intertwined with the team’s direction. If the Vikings are trying to remain competitive, trading Hunter or allowing him to leave in free agency is nearly unthinkable. When healthy, Hunter is a top-10 edge rusher and has the potential to challenge for a top-three spot nearly every year.
The move would be a very distinct commitment to a level of rebuilding most Vikings fans are unfamiliar with. Trading away a premier edge rusher who is still in his prime would essentially be waving the white flag for the upcoming season while positioning Minnesota to make a run at the quarterback of the future.
The assets the Vikings can get from dealing Hunter could be used to trade up for a premier quarterback in next year’s draft. With Minnesota looking to be too competitive to acquire a lottery pick, they could prove to be invaluable.
If another team offers Minnesota a first-round pick in any capacity, they should take that deal immediately. And with the Denver Broncos fetching a first- and fourth-round pick for Bradley Chubb while he’s performing at a substantially lower level, the Vikings should be able to find an offer like that.
While the argument to trade Hunter is palatable, the Vikings also have the cap flexibility to retain him if they choose to. An edge rusher of Hunter’s caliber is very rare, and he remains valuable in any rebuilding or competitive state.
If the Vikings retain Hunter, they will have to draw up an entirely new contract for him. They’ll have to find a middle ground that pleases Hunter’s camp and gives the team flexibility in the event that he gets injured again or doesn’t perform to his standard.
Harold Landry: 5y/$87.5m
$35M gtd. at signing
Landry suffered an ACL injury in the same offseason he signed with the Tennessee Titans, keeping him from playing last year. Hunter would likely land in the same ballpark as Landry in average annual value (AAV) while perhaps receiving a smaller contract. Hunter has performed at a substantially more impressive level than Landry. However, he has missed more time, and Landry’s contract is the fifth-highest in AAV.
Bradley Chubb: 5y/$110m
$33M gtd. at signing
Chubb’s deal would likely place on the higher end of what Hunter could receive. While Hunter has also outperformed Chubb, who also has a significant injury history, Chubb is significantly younger and may have higher upside.
Hunter should likely receive a contract between Landry and Chubb, clocking in around a four-year, $76 million deal with roughly $28 million in guarantees.
Ultimately Hunter’s continued employment in Minnesota will be determined by the team’s belief in his ability to stay healthy rather than their belief in his ability to perform at a high level. If Hunter shows that he can remain healthy throughout the season, the Vikings have the flexibility to align his future with their plans of either remaining competitive or rebuilding.
