If Not the Vikings, Where Could Danielle Hunter Land in Free Agency? A Look at 3 Options
Josh Frey
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Among the many players whose futures are up in the air with the Minnesota Vikings, Danielle Hunter lands near the top of the list in terms of importance.
The veteran pass rusher enters free agency in 2024 after being one of the few bright spots for the Vikings at the outside linebacker position, and while Minnesota should do everything in their power to re-sign him, they likely will be in a bidding war with a number of different teams. Here is a look at three different teams that Danielle Hunter could leave the Vikings for in 2024.
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears were surprisingly active at the trade deadline in 2023, making a move to bring in Montez Sweat from the Washington Commanders. Following this trade, the Bears finished the year with a 5-4 record and never lost a game by more than eight points over their final nine matchups.
With Sweat signing a four-year contract extension to remain in Chicago, the Bears could solidify their pass rushing unit by bringing in Hunter to join him to take pressure off one of the youngest secondaries in the NFL.
Chicago was one of the most active teams in free agency during the 2023 offseason, and they seem poised to be up near the top yet again.
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals hired Jonathan Gannon as their head coach last offseason. Gannon has plenty of experience coaching Hunter seeing as the two spent time together in Minnesota from 2015-17 when the current Cardinals head coach was an assistant defensive backs coach for the Vikings.
Arizona spent a large chunk of 2023 without starting QB Kyler Murray, and as a result, they finished the year 4-13. They also desperately need some help with their pass rush. After J.J. Watt retired following the conclusion of the 2022 season, the Cardinals finished with just 33 sacks in 2023, the third-fewest in the NFL.
Seeing as the Cardinals have right around $41.7 million in cap space this offseason, they have an opportunity to be big spenders in free agency. After the Vikings poached CB Byron Murphy from Arizona in 2023, perhaps the Cardinals can get back at Minnesota by poaching Hunter this spring.
Houston Texans
The timeline of the Houston Texans’ rebuild rapidly shortened in 2023 following some fantastic play from rookie QB C.J. Stroud. The second overall pick proved that he can be a franchise quarterback in the NFL and led the Texans to a 10-7 record this past season and just their fifth double-digit win season in franchise history.
Not only do the Texans give Hunter an opportunity to compete right away in 2024, but it would be a homecoming story as well considering the 29-year-old defender grew up in the area and attended high school at Morton Ranch just outside of the city.
The Texans benefit from having multiple playmakers on rookie contracts as well, meaning they have $57.7 million in cap space heading into the offseason, sixth-most in the league. Hunter could create a fearsome duo with 2023’s Defensive Rookie of the Year, Will Anderson, if he headed to Houston.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this article.
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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.