NFL Insider Says Vikings Could Lose Danielle Hunter to Chicago Bears
The Minnesota Vikings have a huge offseason ahead of them. First priority is determining the future of Kirk Cousins. Next up will be Danielle Hunter, who’s also set for free agency.
Related: Some Within Vikings Organization Eyeing Trade-Up for Justin Jefferson Friendly QB in NFL Draft
Eventually, Justin Jefferson’s contract will be addressed too, but he’s at least under contract for next season. Meanwhile, the other Vikings’ stars listed above are not. Yet, unlike Cousins, the Vikings have somewhat ignored paying Hunter what he’s worth in recent years, preferring to have him ‘earn’ his contract by proving he can remain durable.
After playing 34 games across the past two seasons, where he returned to Pro Bowl form, it’s become clear that Hunter is worth a massive contract in free agency. But now, NFL insiders are beginning to doubt the Vikings’ ability to retain their best defender.
ESPN Casts Doubt on Vikings’ Ability to Keep Danielle Hunter in Free Agency
So far, despite plenty of previous trade rumors, the Minnesota Vikings’ front office has not been willing to part with their best pass-rusher. Since Brian Flores has taken over defensive coordinator duties, Danielle Hunter has also made his feelings known that Minnesota is the place he wants to be.
Yet, money talks, and as mentioned, the Vikings have other priorities this offseason, meaning Hunter may find better offers elsewhere.
That’s the sense ESPN’s Dan Graziano has gotten while down in Las Vegas for the Super Bowl regarding Hunter. He even said one of the Vikings’ division rivals could be monitoring Hunter’s situation once free agency gets underway.
“The sense I get here in Vegas is that Danielle Hunter will be hard for the Vikings to keep. He will have a very strong market, he turned 29 in October, and several teams had interest at the trade deadline. Chicago could look to add a pass-rusher to complement Montez Sweat in free agency and is very high on Hunter. The Jacksonville Jaguars are another team to watch, though they have to figure out Josh Allen’s future.”
ESPN’s Dan Graziano on Vikings’ ability to retain Danielle Hunter
Hunter playing for the Bears? The Vikings can’t let that happen. Yet unless they make him an offer too good to refuse, several other teams are hoping to steal one of Minnesota’s best players this offseason.
If the Vikings do lose Hunter, it only creates a much bigger hole on defense, where either the 11th or the 42nd picks in the NFL Draft may have to be invested into the front seven. That’s on top of thinking about what’s ahead at QB after Kirk Cousins eventually moves on, either this offseason or in the near future.
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