ESPN predicts Vikings will lose key player this offseason
ESPN made some predictions for each non-playoff team on Monday and they have the Minnesota Vikings losing a key player this offseason. Aaron Schatz predicted that Minnesota will allow superstar edge rusher Danielle Hunter to leave in free agency. From ESPN: The Vikings will allow edge rusher Danielle Hunter to leave in free agency despite […]
ESPN made some predictions for each non-playoff team on Monday and they have the Minnesota Vikings losing a key player this offseason.
Aaron Schatz predicted that Minnesota will allow superstar edge rusher Danielle Hunter to leave in free agency.
From ESPN: The Vikings will allow edge rusher Danielle Hunter to leave in free agency despite the fact he set a career-high with 15.5 sacks in 2023. Hunter's cost will be too expensive going into his age-30 season (likely over $20 million per year), and Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will look to get younger on defense.
That would be an understandable decision by the Vikings.
Hunter's value will never be higher than it is right now after coming off a season where he totaled 16.5 sacks and four forced fumbles.
But as Schatz notes, Hunter will turn 30 next season. And he missed all but seven games from 2020 to 2021. That injury history combined with his age would make it tough to commit to giving Hunter a lucrative longterm contract.
Hunter, who can't be franchised tagged by the Vikings this offseason because of the contract he signed last offseason, said on Sunday after Minnesota's loss to the Detroit Lions that he'd love to stay with the Vikings.
Hunter might have to give the Vikings a discount if he's going to stick around in Minnesota.
Vikings finish season with obvious need for next year
This can’t happen again.
