Danielle Hunter May Soon Play Linebacker
Danielle Hunter has been subject to no shortage of speculation this offseason. One thing that hasn’t been discussed as much is that he may soon be playing LB.
The veteran defensive end is once again coming off a season-ending injury. First, it was the neck “tweak” that led to him missing the entire 2020 season. Then, it was a torn pec against the Cowboys, an injury that sunk the rest of his 2021 season.
The Vikings therefore find themselves in a very difficult situation. There’s no debating that he’s a tremendously gifted football player. His length, explosiveness, and pass rush moves make him an absolute terror. Having him on the field makes life considerably more difficult for the opposition. Not many teams have an OT who can handle Hunter one-on-one.
All this contributes to what is a challenging situation. To my mind, the best move is to work toward a sensible restructure, one that lowers his massive 2022 cap hit while giving him the chance to make high-end money through incentives. Alas, I’m not in charge of the salary cap.
Let’s lay aside the money for a moment, though. One thing that hasn’t been considered a ton is how the role may need to evolve for Danielle Hunter.
Ed Donatell is the team’s next DC. That brings with it a strong possibility of switching to a 3-4 defense (as Vikings Territory recently discussed).
Now, it’s entirely possible that Hunter takes on a J.J. Watt-style role as a defensive end. Keep in mind, though, that Watt is a fair bit larger than Minnesota’s DE1. Watt is listed at 288; Hunter is listed at 252. Are those weights completely accurate for right now? Probably not, and yet they do suggest that a player built like Watt is better suited for being a DE in a 3-4.
It seems that Hunter’s size (or, in this case, lack thereof) would make him a better option to take on a Za’Darius Smith/Von Miler/Leonard Floyd role. If you head over to the PFF rankings, you’ll find that these players are all listed in the more general EDGE category. Technically, they’re linebackers, but their primary contribution still comes through their pass rushing abilities.
So, I don’t foresee Hunter being tasked with tons of pass coverage responsibilities à la Eric Kendricks. The main difference, as far as I can tell, is that it would require Danielle Hunter to be in a two-point stance far more. At times, he’ll drop to the flats in pass coverage. On passing downs, though, Hunter would often be tasked with operating from a two-point stance. It’s something that he has done some in the past, though it’s still a minority of his snaps.
A final thought. It’s very possible that the team decides to move on from Hunter if a great trade proposal emerges. Does his lack of experience in a 3-4 impact that potential decision? It’s impossible to say, but it is noteworthy.
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