Well, Danielle Hunter Was Snubbed.
Dustin Baker
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It’s Madden Week, and the Minnesota Vikings were actually well-represented at wide receiver and safety.
Justin Jefferson pulled down the best possible rating in the EA Sports video game (a 99), while Harrison Smith ranked as the NFL’s seventh-best safety per Madden.
Well, Danielle Hunter Was Snubbed.
But then the game dropped EDGE rusher ratings — and Vikings outside linebacker Danielle Hunter was totally missing. He didn’t make the Top 10, and that was that.
Madden scores for EDGE defenders dropped Tuesday and are as follows:
- Nick Bosa (SF) 98
- Myles Garrett (CLE) 98
- Micah Parsons (DAL) – 97
- T.J. Watt (PIT) – 94
- Von Miller (BUF) – 94
- Maxx Crosby (LV) – 94
- Joey Bosa (LAC) – 91
- Haason Reddick (PHI) – 90
- DeMarcus Lawrence (DAL) – 90
- Matthew Judon (NE) – 89
Hunter was nowhere to be found, fetching an 87 rating on the outside looking in. And suggesting Hunter should be included in Top 10 EDGE rankings isn’t some homer take. He ranked as the NFL’s seventh-best EDGE defender in 2022, according to Pro Football Focus.
For the Madden scores, though, it’s no cigar.
Demarcus Lawrence, who grabbed ninth place per Madden, finished 2022 with a 73.9 PFF grade, ranking No. 32 leaguewide — 25 spots below Hunter.
Hunter held out of Vikings mandatory minicamp in June, seeking a contract extension as his ‘team-friendly’ deal signed in 2018 nears expiration. The Pro Bowler should fetch north of $20 million via his next contract, and if Minnesota isn’t enthused about investing that cash in a soon-to-be 29-year-old, Hunter could be traded.
None of that, however, should change Hunter’s Madden rating.
Hunter totaled 65 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, 3 passes defended, and 1 forced fumble in 2022, his first season inside a 3-4 defense. Assuming he comes to an agreement with the Vikings front office, Hunter will be deployed in Brian Flores’ new defense this September. Minnesota’s defense struggled tremendously in 2022 — despite winning the NFC North with a 13-4 record — and cut ties with 2022 defensive bossman Ed Donatell accordingly.
Minnesota will also utilize Marcus Davenport at outside linebacker, and his Madden rating was a 76. D.J. Wonnum checked in with a 72; Patrick Jones fired up a 69. Undrafted free agent EDGE rusher Andre Carter II scored a 63.
Vikings training camp begins Sunday.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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