Vikings’ pass rusher Danielle Hunter plans to skip the team’s mandatory minicamp this week as questions regarding his future with the team persist. The likelihood is that Hunter will stay with Minnesota, but if he moves on, where could he land?
Hunter is a tough player to figure out. He’s clearly one of the most physically gifted and talented edge rushers in the NFL – he has four double-digit sack seasons and 400 career pressures per PFF. Staying healthy has been an issue for him however. He missed the entire 2020 season with a herniated disc in his neck and played in just seven games in 2021 before a torn pectoral muscle ruled him out for the remainder of the season.
Admittedly, these are isolated freak injuries as opposed to recurring muscle injuries. An injury-prone tag on him would be harsh. But the fact remains, Hunter hasn’t been on the field all that much recently. But when he has, he’s been one of the more productive pass rushers in the league. His 70 pressures in 2022, per PFF, was the second-best number of his career and the seventh-most in the NFL.
If Hunter ends up leaving the Vikings, he’ll have a list of suitors looking to secure his services. So, let’s dig into the potential landing spots.
Chicago Bears
Let’s start with an NFC North rival. Perhaps an odd suggestion given that intra-division trades aren’t frequent in the NFL. However, the Vikings did acquire T.J. Hockenson from the Lions last season, so perhaps there’s an outside chance that this one could happen.
Plus, the Bears have a desperate need for a pass rush. They added DeMarcus Walker in free agency and interior defenders Zacch Pickens and Gervon Dexter in the draft, but Walker is more of a rotational rusher and the two rookies are just that – rookies. Pinning the hopes of a defense on their ability to get to the quarterback isn’t good management.
The Bears are aiming for ascension in 2023. It might not be an immediate prospect, but they’ve notably improved one of the worst rosters in the league from a year prior. They have a true No. 1 receiver in D.J. Moore, a better offensive line, and made some nice selections in the draft. But they didn’t fully address the edge position. Here’s a good chance to do so by adding Hunter.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars aren’t in the “all-in” category of teams heading into the 2023 NFL season. They’ve got one of the youngest rosters in the league but have some experience at important positions and quality around most of the roster. All in they are not, but they’ll be one of the better teams competing for a postseason berth. And they’ll be looking to make it back-to-back AFC South Divisional titles in 2023.
Re-solidifying a strong pass rush would be a useful way of putting the Jaguars in a position to succeed once again. The defense had the 7th-best pass-rush win rate in the NFL last season, per ESPN Analytics, and their four primary edge rushers in rotation all pressured the quarterback more than 35 times, per PFF.
However, Arden Key and Dawuane Smoot – who combined for 80 pressures – are no longer with the team and the Jaguars didn’t address the edge position very much in free agency or the draft. Bringing in Hunter takes some weight off Josh Allen and Travon Walker as well. Walker showed promise in his rookie season – he’s a physical freak who profiles as an exceptional run defender first and foremost.
Hunter can mostly feature in true pass-rushing situations while allowing Walker to ease his way into that aspect at the NFL level. But it also gives the Jaguars additional flexibility with what fronts they want to deploy. Walker can kick inside while allowing Allen and Hunter to pin their ears back and attack the quarterback.
Los Angeles Rams
There aren’t many tougher teams to figure out than the Rams. Overall, the roster might be one of the worst units in the NFL. There’s no other way to spin it. But, they still have guys like Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp, and Matthew Stafford under contract. Ostensibly speaking, the Rams might still believe they’re in a Super Bowl window. Strange, considering they have the youngest roster in the NFL, but possible.
If that’s the case then they certainly need some juice on the defensive side of the football. More specifically, at every single position that isn’t occupied by Donald or Ernest Jones. So let’s start on the edge. Hunter fits the bill for what Sean McVay likes from his pass-rushers and would slot in seamlessly beside Aaron Donald.
The pulling point for the Rams could be the fact that, if this is a Super Bowl window (eek), then it could be their last with this roster. Donald is 32, Kupp is 30, and Stafford is 35. And his health is a relative unknown heading into the season. Hunter would be a one-year rental, giving the Rams one last chance to take a swing for the fences by providing some excellent pass rush off the edge. He alone wouldn’t be enough to change the fortunes of the defense, though.
Atlanta Falcons
Big things are quietly expected of the Falcons in 2023. See if you can figure that one out. But, really, this is a team that could improve exponentially. Much of the hope relies on a jump in play from Desmond Ridder, but the pieces around him – especially on offense – are enough to carry him.
But you know the premise of this article and what comes next. Having Hunter would make this defense a much-improved unit. The Falcons’ defense had the second-fewest sacks in the league in 2022 and only one edge rusher, Lorenzo Carter, had more than 30 pressures. Sure, Arnold Ebiketie was a rookie and will likely take a step forward in 2023 and the Falcons brought in Bud Dupree and Kaden Elliss to bolster the pass rush, but it might not be enough still.
Dupree is probably past his prime and Elliss has one season of production. So we’re not sure how real his resume is yet. With Hunter, the Falcons get a bonafide star to boost the pass rush. It’s that simple.
-Thomas Valentine
Twitter: @tvalentinesport
Photo: Keith Allison. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.