Vikings Place Danielle Hunter on Trade Block After Contract Talks Stall Again

The Minnesota Vikings have one big piece of their offseason puzzle that they just cannot get to fit and it’s Danielle Hunter, whose failed contract negotiations continue to hold up other things on their to-do list. A list that’s expected to include extensions for both Justin Jefferson and TJ Hockenson.

Danielle Hunter hits trade block

And on Saturday, according to a new report from Jeremy Fowler (ESPN), talks with Hunter hit yet another impasse, leading the Vikings to more seriously consider trade offers that have been thrown their way by other teams around the league.

Fowler doesn’t rule out a future deal happening between Danielle and the team that drafted him in the 3rd round of the 2015 NFL Draft but it shows a sense of urgency to find some sort of resolution that we hadn’t seen up to this point.

The Vikings have evaluated trade options for Danielle Hunter in light of his ongoing unhappiness with his contract, with sources from multiple teams saying Minnesota has made the former Pro Bowler available.

Hunter does not want to play on his $4.9 million base salary for this season, so the Vikings have tried to find creative solutions should they fail to reach a new deal with him. Hunter, 28, skipped organized team activities and mandatory minicamp and is not practicing during training camp after missing the offseason program.

Jeremy Fowler (ESPN)

What’s the hold up in contract talks?

The issues in negotiations continue to stem from what happens after the upcoming season, which is set to be his last in purple. GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is willing to give Danielle Hunter a large raise for 2023, when he is currently slated to receive just $5.5 million total.

But the Minnesota Vikings have been willing to offer very little, beyond 2023. And that is where Hunter and his team have dug their feet in. Either the Vikings offer multiple years at $20+ million or they don’t get him at all.

Where things go from here is anyone’s guess. But for now, the likelihood Hunter plays for the Vikings this season appears more and more slim with every training camp day that goes by.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan