Danielle Hunter Wants New Contract, More Money to Stay With Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings are slowly piecing together their cap-strapped offseason and 2022 roster, most recently agreeing to a contract restructure with Adam Thielen on Friday morning. Yet, the second-highest hurdle of the offseason, Danielle Hunter’s scheduled $26.1 million cap hit, is yet to be addressed.

Hunter Wants More Money

In fact, we’ve seen more reports of Hunter on the trade block, than we have an extension. And now we know why. Once again, Danielle Hunter wants a new contract and he wants it to include more money than what the Vikings are willing to offer him (Darren Wolfson – SKOR North).

“On Danielle [Hunter], here’s what I believe to be true. He’s ok playing in a 3-4. I’ve been saying that for awhile and I’ll continue to believe that. He wants more money.

This goes back to the Joey Bosa contract with the Chargers. I know Danielle, his people looked at that and went, ‘What the bleep, Danielle is a better player. If Joey Bosa’s making that, how am I only making this?’.

But yeah, what a moronic contract Danielle Hunter’s agent did a couple years ago. That was as bad a contract as it gets. Huge win for Rob Brzezinski and the Vikings. But yes, I look at it and say, ‘Danielle wants more money’. The Vikings look at it and say, ‘Hmm, how are we even going to do this?’.”

Darren Wolfson – SKOR North

Delay Revealed

Danielle Hunter took a bad deal back in 2018 and he and his representation have been trying to make up for it ever since. Had he been able to remain healthy, it’s probably not a factor because the Vikings would have paid him by now or traded him to a team willing to unload a Khalil Mack type package to pry him away.

Unhappy players who are highly coveted around the NFL get moved. But when you’re injured as often as Hunter, you become much more difficult to move, given what your team would want back for your talent. And that’s the crossroads that Kwesi & Co currently face.

Vikings Hold Cards, Barring Holdout

Of course, the Minnesota Vikings hold the Aces in this negotiating deck because, without Danielle Hunter’s permission, they can trigger a clause in his salary that would convert his $18.5 million roster bonus into a signing bonus, saving the Vikings $13 million against their 2022 cap.

Of course, Hunter could always holdout and refuse to pay under a contract he doesn’t like. But even if Danielle wouldn’t take his displeasure to that extreme, it’s unlikely new Vikings management wants him on roster if he’s disgruntled. Thus, the reports in recent days that Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is shopping the incredibly talented, oft injured EDGE rusher.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan