The Danielle Hunter contract saga has begun with news from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that the star edge rusher will not attend Minnesota’s voluntary offseason program, with Fowler saying it is “likely” the result of him wanting a better contract.
#Vikings DE Danielle Hunter is not expected to attend the start of Minnesota's voluntary offseason program, per sources.
The absence is likely due to his contract — he's set to make $4.9M in the last year of his deal, well below market for a three-time Pro Bowler.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 17, 2023
Hunter is set to make just $4.9 million next season and carry a $13.1 million cap hit, according to OverTheCap.com. Per his OTC valuation, that number should be closer to $20 million.
“Even if Hunter was willing to step on the field with his current deal — which he shouldn’t be (and he can afford to hold out) — it doesn’t make much sense to play him for 2023 and then let him walk in free agency when he could net the Vikings good return in the form of draft capital,” Purple Insider’s Matthew Coller wrote after the 2022 season ended.
“Top pass rushers are getting between $23-$28 million annually. For a team that needs a lot of help, that’s a huge amount to pour into one player, even if he’s terrific. And his age might not be a factor but long-term concerns about the accumulation of injuries must be considered.”
Last offseason, the Bears traded Khalil Mack to the Chargers for a second-round pick in 2022 and a sixth-rounder in 2023. But if the Vikings trade Hunter before June 1 they’ll eat an $18.6 million dead cap hit this season, whereas trading him after June 1 would reduce the dead cap hit to $7.6 million, per OverTheCap.
Without a new deal, it appears that Hunter will skip the voluntary team workouts, which begin April 17.
The NFL Draft is just 11 days away so big decisions could happen soon.
