Rapoport: Danielle Hunter Garnering “Real” Trade Interest
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Vikings are getting some trade interest about a notable pass rusher.
Danielle Hunter, a 3rd-round selection coming out of the 2015 NFL Draft, has long been in the extension chatter surrounding the Vikings. Without a deal in place – as Rapoport explains – teams will call to see about prying away the long & strong pass rusher.
Take a look at what Rapoport has to say:
Now, it’s worth noting that calling about isn’t the same thing as actually trading for. Just because a rival GM calls to offer something for Danielle Hunter doesn’t mean he’ll have an offer compelling enough to acquire Danielle Hunter.
There are already legitimate questions about whether or not the Vikings have enough defensive talent to compete in 2023. At the very least, Hunter is among the defense’s best players. He may be the best overall (my opinion).
Subtracting Hunter – a truly elite player – would be a confounding decision for the competitively-rebuilding GM. A simple look toward the future? Sure, trading a great (though a touch older) pass rusher makes some sense. Competing in the upcoming season? Well, that makes the situation a touch more complex.
At this stage, Hunter is basically irreplaceable. Marcus Davenport has commonly battled injury in his career, so putting even more emphasis on the former Saint doesn’t seem like a wise approach. He’s already being burdened with filling Za’Darius Smith’s shoes. Hunter’s as well? That’s a tall order.
“Teams have been calling the Minnesota Vikings regarding Danielle Hunter,” Rapoport explains the short video. He goes on: “He’s very, very good. Teams usually like really, really good players at premium positions like pass rusher. He’s also due to make just $5.5 million this year.”
Note: that’s the actual money he’ll make, not his cap hit. Fans, quite often, only care about the cap hit. Players, meanwhile, worry more about how much money they’re actually making.
But therein lies the issue, folks: the veteran is making a mere pittance, at least in the world of NFL finances. As we should all know by now, money will cure all. Arriving at a sizable extension is sure to assuage the concerns that Hunter currently has. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Minnesota organization would be wise to put together an offer that’s amenable to #99.
The 7th-best edge defender in the PFF rankings for 2022, Hunter finished the season with an 87.1 grade. The more traditional stats are similarly flattering. He had 10.5 sacks, 22 QB hits, 3 PDs, 12 TFLs, and 65 overall tackles.
Without him in the lineup, the Vikings would turn to some combination of Davenport, D.J. Wonnum, Luiji Vilain, Andre Carter II, and Patrick Jones (alongside a few other depth options). Free agent pass rushers like Justin Houston would also become more attractive.
The team is currently sitting on $9.75 million in cap space. Next season, the Vikings have close to $42 million in room. Hunter will turn 29 at the end of October.
Since taking over at GM, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has completed an eye-popping 15 trades. Many Vikings fans will be hoping that Hunter doesn’t become #16.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference, PFF, and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
