The Green Bay Packers aren’t the only NFC North team who may be in the middle of a significant off-season when it comes to trades. One of their biggest rivals is reportedly shopping one of their best defensive players. The Minnesota Vikings are taking and listening to phone calls regarding a three-time All-Pro pass rusher.
Minnesota Vikings Fielding Calls For DE Danielle Hunter Trade
In an article written by Nick Shook of NFL.com:
Minnesota has been receiving calls regarding the availability of edge rusher Danielle Hunter, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday on Inside Minicamps on NFL+.
After enduring a neck injury that required season-ending surgery in 2020 and a torn pectoral in 2021, Hunter returned and made a statement in 2022, recording 10.5 sacks and earning a third trip to the Pro Bowl. In his seven NFL seasons, Hunter has recorded 71 sacks, 379 tackles (85 for loss) and seven forced fumbles, all logged with the Vikings.
He’s still only 28 years old, but is entering the final year of his existing contract and may not be in Minnesota’s long-term plans, due in part to the fact the Vikings are facing a possible retooling of the roster that could include quarterback Kirk Cousins, who will still accounts for $28.5 million in cap space in 2024 even if he isn’t on the roster.
Simply, there just might not be enough money to keep everyone, and if the Vikings are interested in maximizing their return on Hunter while he still carries value, this summer is the time to do so. Where he’ll land remains to be seen, but after the Vikings moved Smith via trade, Hunter could follow him out of the door in a trade made in the best long-term financial interest of the franchise.
The Minnesota Vikings are looking at multiple long-term deals in the near future. Most notably, Justin Jefferson looks to be the highest paid non-QB player in NFL history. The possibility is still there for the Vikings to re-sign Kirk Cousins to another top market QB deal. In order to accomplish these things, trading away players with a large salary cap hit may be a necessity.
In one off-season the Vikings could lose Za’Darius Smith and Danielle Hunter. Those two pass rushers alone accounted for 20.5 sacks in 2022. That would be a major blow to their pass rush ability in 2023 and beyond.
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