Vikings Open to Trading Star Pass Rusher Danielle Hunter, per Report

The pass rusher is entering the final year of his contract.

If the Vikings and pass rusher Danielle Hunter cannot reach common ground on an extension, Minnesota is open to putting the veteran on the trade market, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. While the Vikings want to sign Hunter long-term, Fowler reports they want him on a deal that matches his age and skill set.

Additionally, according to Fowler, Hunter prefers being traded or released over playing on his current contract.

Hunter is entering the final year of a five-year, $70 million extension, but is set to make a base salary of $4.9 million. Unhappy with his contract, Hunter skipped all of OTAs in the Spring and has yet to practice at Minnesota’s training camp.

While the two sides remain apart, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reports the Vikings have not fined Hunter yet for not practicing and have made sure to keep the situation “uncontentious.”

A third-round pick in the 2015 NFL draft, Hunter has spent his entire career with the Vikings. In seven seasons, he has surpassed double-digit sacks four times and made three Pro Bowls. Last year, Hunter totaled 10.5 sacks in 17 games after not playing at all in 2020 and just appearing in seven games in 2021.

In 2022, Hunter and Za’Darius Smith combined for more than half of Minnesota’s sacks, and Smith signed with the Browns in the offseason.