Vikings restructure contract of Danielle Hunter, clear $5.5M in cap space
Sean Borman
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The Minnesota Vikings on Friday restructured the contract of defensive end Danielle Hunter. On Saturday, details of the transaction were released.
According to Courtney Cronin of ESPN, the Vikings converted $8 million of Hunter’s $10.9 million base salary into a signing bonus. Doing so lowered Hunter’s 2020 cap hit from $14.5 million to $9 million, saving the team $5.5 million against the cap.
Regarding Danielle Hunter’s contract restructure, I’m told #Vikings converted $8 million of his $10.9M 2020 base salary into a signing bonus. Hunter had a $14.5M cap hit for 2020 (base salary included partially earned escalator for 2019 season – he had 14.5 sacks, escalator=15)
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) March 21, 2020
Hunter was a third-round pick of the Vikings in 2015. After registering 25.5 sacks in his first three seasons, he signed a 5-year contract extension with Minnesota on June 28, 2018 worth $72 million.
On that deal his cap figures were to be $14.5 million, $15 million, $15 million and $12 million the next four seasons. After the restructure, his new cap hits will now be $9 million, $17 million, $17 million and $14 million. Still a rather team-friendly deal for the youngest player ever to reach 50 sacks.
Hunter has recorded 14.5 sacks the last two seasons. He has 54.5 sacks in 49 career starts.