Vikings Danielle Hunter Places Just Outside Top 10 of EDGE Rankings

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Dec 8, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter. Mandatory Credit: Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports.

Over the past few days, there have been a few Minnesota Vikings in the headlines, not for their contributions with the team, but for rumors that they could potentially leave the team in 2023. Dalvin Cook is officially on the free agency market after months of speculation, but one surprising player that has been gaining steam in the trade market is Vikings EDGE Danielle Hunter.

Danielle Hunter
Nov 4, 2018; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter (99) celebrates after a sack during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Perhaps Hunter could actually garner some significant trade assets due to what he brings to the Vikings defense when healthy. In fact, in a recent ranking of the best edge rushers in the league, Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus placed the Vikings defender just outside the top 10, ranking him No. 11. Here is what Sikkema had to say of Hunter’s skillset:

Hunter may be three years removed from his impressive 2019 season, but I don’t think enough people are giving him the credit he deserves for his impressive 2022 season, as it was the second-most productive season of his career. He finished the year with a 15.9% pass rush win rate and 85 total pressures.

Hunter was a third-round pick by the Vikings in 2015, and while his 6.0 sacks in that rookie season wasn’t a huge total, it didn’t take long for him to put up some truly impressive numbers for Minnesota’s defense.

Grading the Vikings Position Groups: Defense
Dec 16, 2018; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports.

In three of the four seasons from 2016-19, Hunter put together double-digit sack totals, including back-to-back years of 14.5 sacks in 2018 and 2019. He was named a Pro Bowler in both seasons and came in fifth-place for Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2019.

However, since then, injuries have become a big question for Hunter. He missed the entire 2020 season due to a neck injury, and then in 2021, he missed the final 10 games of the year with a torn pectoral muscle.

2022 certainly was about as good of a bounce-back that the Vikings could have asked for, though. Once again, the pass-rusher broke double-digits for sacks, recording 10.5, and he played all 17 regular season games.

Danielle Hunter / Sheldon Richardson
Oct 14, 2018; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Linval Joseph (98) and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (93) and defensive end Danielle Hunter (99) enter the field before the game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Arizona Cardinals at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

While the injuries may still be in the back of people’s minds heading into 2023, the reality is this: Hunter is a 28-year-old pass rusher with boatloads of talent and years of great football ahead of him. He should absolutely be considered one of the best EDGE rushers in the league.

Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. 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.

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