The Minnesota Vikings have been active at the NFL Scouting Combine and while most of the attention has been focused on the quarterback position, another storyline is the pending free agency of Danielle Hunter.
Hunter is set to hit the market for the first time since signing a five-year, $72 million contract in 2018 and he recorded a career-high 16.5 sacks last season. While ESPN’s Dan Graziano says the Vikings have made an attempt to re-sign Hunter, he also says that multiple teams are expected to pursue the 29-year-old edge rusher.
“Hunter…could be the top edge rusher on the market and would likely generate interest from multiple teams,” Graziano wrote. “The Vikings attention has been focused on finding out whether they can keep Cousins, but he’s not the only significant piece of business they have to address.”
Graziano’s colleague Jeremy Fowler also confirmed that Hunter’s price tag will not be cheap, floating out a price tag over $20 million per season to keep him around.
“Not as many numbers floated around Indy as usual, but it’s safe to say teams are expecting to be in – or at least searching for – a pretty massive price range,” Fowler wrote. “Something well north of $20 million per year. And the production might justify it.”
Hunter missed the entire 2020 season due to a neck injury and the final nine games of the 2021 season with a torn pectoral muscle but has rebounded to record 26.5 sacks over the last two seasons.
That track record has teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears connected to Hunter with just over a week until free agency begins on Mar. 11.
With Patrick Jones II and Andre Carter the only edge rushers on the roster, Hunter’s contract remains an important piece of business and could shape the way the Vikings attack the offseason.
Oct 15, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) is pursued by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Danielle Hunter (99) in the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports
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