The Minnesota Vikings are working to star edge rusher Danielle Hunter, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano on March 3.
They aren’t alone in having interest in the four-time Pro Bowler, though.
“Offensive guard and edge rusher have emerged as two premium positions that Giants GM Joe Schoen will prioritize and possibly pay for in free agency this March,” New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard wrote on March 2. “Detroit Lions left guard Jonah Jackson and Minnesota Vikings pass rusher Danielle Hunter, in particular, are among the top-tier free agents at those positions that the Giants like, sources at the NFL Combine say.”
Hunter, 29, is coming off a career-best 16.5-sack season and a one-year, $17 million contract.
He figures to make substantially more than that. Spotrac projects him to command a deal worth $20 million annually on the open market.
‘The Vikings … made an effort to re-sign edge rusher Danielle Hunter,” Graziano wrote on March 3. “Hunter … could be the top edge rusher on the market and would likely generate interest from multiple teams.”
That interest means Hunter could expect more than his projected salary.
“It’s safe to say teams are expecting Hunter to be in — or at least searching for — a pretty massive price range, something well north of $20 million per year,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote in response to Graziano. And the production might just justify it: Hunter has averaged 14 sacks over his past four healthy seasons.”
The Giants have $35.3 million to spend in free agency before making any other moves, per Spotrac.
That is roughly $6 million less than the Vikings. But Kirk Cousins’ free agency looms over every other decision for the Vikings this offseason while Justin Jefferson’s is on the horizon, potentially making Hunter a casualty.
A team like the Giants could look to take advantage of that situation.