Danielle Hunter has emerged as the most recent veteran ready skip obligatory minicamp amidst a contract dispute. The sting rusher is planning on remaining absent from the Vikings this week, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Community.
Hunter has one 12 months remaining on his contract, leaving his future doubtful. The 28-year-old is due $5.5M in 2023, however his cap hit is $13.1M, main partially to the monetary deadlock he and the Vikings now discover themselves in. Hunter was additionally absent from voluntary OTAs, although this newest determination may result in fines. Gamers might be docked a complete of almost $99K if they continue to be away from their group throughout three-day minicamps.
Not for the primary time, Hunter’s future in Minnesota has come into query this offseason. He was talked about in commerce rumors beforehand, and the Vikings have received inquiries into his availability in a possible swap. Hunter handled harm troubles in 2020 and ’21, however his stage of play final season has boosted his worth.
The LSU product racked up 10.5 sacks in 2022, including 12 tackles for loss and 22 QB hits, which matched his profession excessive. Together with his well being and manufacturing much less of a query than earlier years, Hunter’s need to safe a multi-year extension is comprehensible. Alternatively, the Vikings have parted methods with plenty of veterans this offseason as they appear to implement their “aggressive rebuild” technique going ahead.
Minnesota launched the likes of Eric Kendricks, Adam Thielen and Dalvin Cook. The group additionally noticed Dalvin Tomlinson and Patrick Peterson depart in free company, and traded away edge rusher Za’Darius Smith.
Transferring on from Hunter through commerce or launch would yield modest cap financial savings and a lifeless cap cost of $7.6M, and it could depart the Vikings in want of a late edge rush addition to exchange him.
The diploma to which Hunter’s determination to carry out opens up contract talks shall be a key story to comply with within the coming days and weeks. If little progress is made on that entrance, hypothesis about his future will little question proceed to warmth up.
