Don’t Bank on a Draft-Day Danielle Hunter Trade
There have been multiple purple rumors surrounding the Minnesota Vikings this offseason, particularly on the trade front. Recently, these rumors have included star EDGE Danielle Hunter after he was not present at the beginning of the Vikings offseason workout program.
One of the reasons a trade of Hunter gets intriguing is that the Vikings could potentially add to their pile of draft picks for next week, which is currently one of the scantest hauls in the NFL. However, there are a couple glaring problems with a draft-day Danielle Hunter trade that could negate any benefit of such a move. Here are a few reasons why we shouldn’t bank on a trade of this sort.
Who Replaces His Production?
Say what you will about Hunter’s durability over the past few years (only seven games played between 2020 and 2021), but in 2022, not only did he remain healthy, but he was the most productive pass rusher on the Vikings roster.
Hunter recorded 10.5 sacks, which led the Vikings last season. He was second in total pressures, win rate, and QB hits, per Pro Football Focus, finishing only behind Za’Darius Smith.
If you need a reminder, Smith’s status with the Vikings is also up in the air after he requested to be released from the team earlier this offseason. If both players were to leave Minnesota, the Vikings would have to replace a grand total of 148 pressures, again per PFF.
Perhaps the situation with Smith could be a lost cause (although updates have gone a bit dormant on that front), but if the Vikings can appease Hunter with a contract extension, why not just do it and maintain the production he brings?
The Hidden Price Tag
Not only do the Vikings lose Hunter’s production by offering him up via trade, but if they trade him prior to June 1st, they actually take on an extra $5.74 million in dead money due to the structure of his contract.
Currently, Hunter carries a cap hit of about $13.1 million for the 2023 season. That hit jumps to $18.86 million due to the void years on his contract for 2024 and 2025.
Keep in mind, the Vikings currently have the second-lowest amount of cap space in the NFL at $1,285,835, according to Over the Cap. They also have to pay their upcoming draft class, which, again per OTC, will be owed just over $6.2 million this upcoming season.
Because of all these factors, it simply doesn’t make fiscal sense for the Vikings to trade Hunter during the draft. A Hunter trade would need to be processed after the June 1st deadline, and if it does, Minnesota would save $5.5 million.
Overall, Hunter needed a productive season in 2022 in order to secure himself a long-term spot with the Vikings. He did that, and he has earned himself a contract extension based on last season and his history of production prior to his injuries. Hopefully, the two sides can reach an agreement that keeps him in Minnesota for years to come.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.