Danielle Hunter Doesn’t Sound Like He Wants to Leave Vikings in Offseason

Danielle Hunter, who was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month in October, is only under contract with the Minnesota Vikings through the end of this season.

Most assume that, when players clean out their lockers at TCO Performance Center for the final time (hopefully after a playoff win or two), that Hunter will leave the premises for the final time as a member of the Vikings.

Your weekly Danielle Hunter highlight reel. pic.twitter.com/m1IkPXwjV7

— Matt Fries (@FriesFootball) October 31, 2023

Both sides have gone to war over his contract each of the last three offseasons an extension to stay in purple just doesn’t seem in the cards. In fact, it’s believed Hunter may have been moved before this week’s trade deadline, had the price for high-end defensive end rentals been higher than a 3rd or 4th round pick.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Defense Rankings and Stats – Week 9

Danielle Hunter “was always going to be here”…

But don’t tell any of that to Danielle. When asked about the trade rumors swirling around him over the last few weeks, Hunter responded apathetically, saying he knew he wasn’t going anywhere. If I didn’t know any better… it almost seems like he doesn’t plan on going anywhere his offseason, either.

Vikings LB Danielle Hunter on the possibility of being traded before Tuesday's NFL trade deadline: "It was never anything in the back of my head. I was always going to be here."

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) November 2, 2023

Look, I know the Minnesota Vikings only have so much money to go around. We know Justin Jefferson will eventually get paid as the highest non-QB in the NFL and I wrote just yesterday about how inevitable a Kirk Cousins contract extension appears, after his Achilles tear.

But if Danielle Hunter really wants to return, Kwesi-Adofo Mensah needs to find a way to make it happen. The only reason to let Hunter walk would be his injury history. But his recent history hasn’t been very injury-riddled, given Hunter has now started 25 games in a row, racking up 20.5 sacks and 31 QB hits along the way.

If Hunter stays healthy for the remainder of 2023-24 and wants to work with the Vikings on a deal that works for both sides, it’d be a treat to see the 29-year-old pass rusher back in purple next season and beyond.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan