Vikings Need to Extend Contract of Pro Bowler
Janik Eckardt
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The Minnesota Vikings must take care of many contracts in the 2023 offseason. A handful of starters are set to enter free agency. Center Garrett Bradbury, cornerback Patrick Peterson, and defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson are the top names to watch.
In addition to the free agents, the team has multiple aging veterans with huge contracts despite their declining performances. Considering the Vikings’ cap struggles, the departure of a few longtime Vikings is possible. However, one player is the opposite. He delivered with great play in 2022 and is set to earn an absurd salary in 2023.
Vikings Need to Extend Contract of Pro Bowler
Danielle Hunter, a 2022 Pro Bowler, had an outstanding season, especially considering the circumstances. The Vikings changed their defensive scheme, and the defender had to learn a new position. During Mike Zimmer’s tenure as the defensive mastermind in Minnesota, Hunter played defensive end in a 4-3. That never changed — outside of a few snaps inside lined up as a defensive tackle.
With the hiring of Ed Donatell as defensive coordinator, many expected Hunter not to fit the system anymore. In the first few weeks, those concerns came true. He had minimal impact on the games. The Vikings coaches stayed calm and insisted that it was just a matter of time until Hunter exploded – and they were right. Once he learned the different angles he had to take, and how he had to play as a standup rusher, he was back to dominant form.
At the end of the season, Hunter ranks seventh in quarterback pressures and fifth in quarterback hurries among all defenders, despite his struggling start. He also led the team in sacks with 10.5, forming an electric duo with Za’Darius Smith, who had 10. The defender is also one of the best EDGE rushers at stopping the run, which has always been an underrated part of his game.
A myth spreading among Vikings fans is that Hunter was in coverage for an absurd amount of time. However, according to PFF, that was only the case on 31 snaps, fewer than two plays per game.
The problem with Hunter is his contract, as he is entering the final year of his contract. His initial five-year contract worth $72 million was a below-market deal when he signed it. A few years later, $14,400,000 is a comically low number for a top EDGE rusher.
The Vikings helped Hunter make more money once they realized his salary was too low when they restructured his deal. However, that created a new problem. Because of the restructures, Hunter will get paid only $5,500,000 in 2023. It’s unlikely he’ll waste a year of his prime for that kind of money without any future guarantees.
He’s 28 years old and will want to sign another big contract in his career. A holdout can reduce the risk of injury until he’s getting a deal. The Vikings can resolve that by either giving him a new contract or trading him away. Of course, trading away a top player is never a good thing. Good EDGE rushers are hard to find, and teams should keep him if they have one. Unless the Vikings get blown away by a trade offer, they should start negotiating with Hunter.
The new defensive coordinator should have a say. A candidate might only need one top pass rusher and can create pressure in other ways. However, having two great pass rushers the opponent has to account for on every play is a significant advantage for the defense — an advantage the Vikings should not give up, considering their defensive struggles in other areas. Keeping Hunter on the team will be one of the most critical tasks in the Vikings’ offseason.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and Classic rock is his music genre of choice. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt
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