According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Minnesota Vikings pass rusher Danielle Hunter might be available for trade. Even though he is coming off a 10-sack season, the three-time Pro Bowler is entering the final year of his contract and the cash-strapped Vikings might not be able to bring him back in 2024. While he’s not an elite pass rusher, Hunter is a good player that would be a welcome addition to any contender.
From Inside Minicamps LIVE on NFL+: The #Vikings are receiving trade calls centered around star pass-rusher Danielle Hunter, and the interest is real, sources say. A look inside the complex situation… pic.twitter.com/GKx98NSx0n
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 7, 2023
Top 5 Danielle Hunter Trade Destinations
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens have a lot of talented yet unproven youngsters along their defensive line. While guys like David Ojabo and Odafe Oweh have high ceilings, Baltimore should look to add another veteran pass rusher with a safe floor. A Danielle Hunter trade would accomplish this task, and he offers similar upside to the currently unsigned Justin Houston while being a few years younger.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints lost a lot of talent on the defensive line over the past few months. While they added their front seven early and often in the 2023 NFL Draft, they lack a proven playmaker on the edge guaranteed to make a Week 1 impact. Danielle Hunter is a perfect fit for the NFC South favorites, and the Saints have never been shy about pulling off a trade for a player they believe in. Bryan Bresee and Isaiah Foskey can be the future of the defensive line, but Danielle Hunter can be the present.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots have a great pass-rushing duo in Matthew Judon and Josh Uche, but Bill Belichick might want to add some more talent to the defensive line. New England’s head coach loves rotating his defensive linemen to keep them as fresh as possible, and a Danielle Hunter trade will create arguably the deepest group of edge defenders in the league. Seeing as they’re in arguably the hardest division in football, they’ll need as much talent as possible to slow down some of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
Danielle Hunter coming up clutch! 💪
📺: #NEvsMIN on NBC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/TePpxXTdES pic.twitter.com/3ap1X63MO5— NFL (@NFL) November 25, 2022
Carolina Panthers
If the Carolina Panthers believe Bryce Young can help this team win from Day 1, then they should be interested in orchestrating a trade for Danielle Hunter. Armed with the second-most cap space in the league, the team could easily handle his cap hit and could use 2023 as an audition year for a long-term deal. Hunter is only 28 and should have some more good years left in his tank. In 2023, he can help the Panthers compete for the playoffs while earning a massive payday in the process.
Kansas City Chiefs
If money weren’t an issue, the Kansas City Chiefs would be the top trade destination for Danielle Hunter. The team has a glaring need at pass rusher, and they’re clearly in the midst of their Super Bowl window, so they should be going all-in on getting as many proven veterans as possible. Unfortunately, it’s going to be hard to make the money work. The Chiefs only have $652,557 in available cap space, so they’ll need to restructure a few deals to make a trade work. However, if they decide that Hunter is worth the financial hurdle, then he’d be a perfect fit in this defense.
Main Photo: Matt Krohn – USA Today Sports
