Report: Danielle Hunter to Skip Vikings' Mandatory Minicamp

Hunter will hold out and be fined as he awaits a new contract or trade.

Vikings Pro Bowl pass rusher Danielle Hunter plans to skip the team's mandatory minicamp this week, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. He is unsatisfied with his contract, so he won't be in attendance. Hunter will be subject to fines for not showing up.

This isn't surprising news. Hunter has yet to attend any of the Vikings' offseason program due to an ongoing contract situation; he's set to make up to just $5.5 million this season after having money moved up on his deal last year. Last week, reports emerged that the Vikings have received trade calls regarding Hunter, and that there is serious interest around the league in his availability.

So even though Hunter will be fined up to roughly $50,000 for missing two days of mandatory minicamp, he doesn't plan on being there. It appears that this situation will end in one of two ways: The Vikings giving Hunter a new contract or trading him to a team that will.

The Vikings Trading Danielle Hunter Would Be a Big Step Towards a Rebuild

The Vikings drafted Hunter in the third round out of LSU in 2015. He had 18.5 sacks in his first two seasons despite playing a rotational role, first becoming a full-time starter in 2017. Prior to the 2018 season, he signed a five-year, $72 million deal, one that immediately became a bargain for the Vikings when Hunter broke out with back-to-back 14.5-sack seasons in '18 and '19.

Since then, Hunter's contract has been a source of drama. He missed the entire 2020 season and half of 2021 due to injury, but stayed healthy last year and recorded 10.5 sacks and 70 pressures despite a new defensive scheme. Hunter turns 29 in October.

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