After signing a five-year extension with the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday, the defensive end received a bunch of congratulations from around the NFL.
Coming off a college career at LSU where he only had a total of 4.5 sacks, Danielle Hunter was assumed to be a project for the Minnesota Vikings after they drafted him in 2015.
However, Hunter’s production as a pass rusher in the NFL has definitely succeeded the expectations he was given three years ago. In three seasons with the Vikings, the defensive end already has 25.5 career sacks and a total of 128 tackles.
Kevin Williams is the only Minnesota player since 1982 to have more total sacks in the first three years of their career than Hunter.
Due to his impressive production in such a short time, the Vikings felt it was necessary to keep the 23-year-old defensive end on their roster as long as possible. So on Wednesday, Minnesota and Hunter agreed to a contract extension.
His new deal is reportedly worth $72 million and will keep him signed with the Vikings until the 2024 season. Hunter is clearly a player Minnesota did not want hitting the free-agent market in 2019.
After the news was revealed about his extension, the young defensive end received a bunch of congratulatory posts from his Vikings teammates on social media.
Congrats to my brother, well deserved! https://t.co/b5YMmlIhG9
— Tashawn Bower (@TashawnBower) June 27, 2018
💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽 extendo arms and an extendo bag to match congrats bruddaman https://t.co/2dcqiUhTgo
— Anthony Barr (@AnthonyBarr) June 27, 2018
CONGRATSSSSSS BIG SWOLE!!! https://t.co/jTxPuPD3vK
— DIGGS (@stefondiggs) June 27, 2018
Original yad mon .. congrats bro! https://t.co/Of9s3ev1vM
— Jaleel Johnson (@leellxvii) June 27, 2018
Even one of Hunter’s former Minnesota teammates was happy to see him get a big-time contract extension on Wednesday.
@DHunt94_TX Most Definitely!!!!! Proud of you bro!!🙏🏾
— Jerick Mckinnon (@JetMckinnon1) June 27, 2018
In addition to the posts from some of his current and former Vikings teammates, the defensive end’s new contract was celebrated by a number of other players from around the NFL. Most of these other posts came from guys Hunter played with during his time at LSU.
Sheeesh!!!!! Congrats Young gun 😳💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾🔐 🎒 @DHunt94_TX https://t.co/fUhANVMLbP
— Cam Jordan (@camjordan94) June 27, 2018
Ooooooooweeeee next time we are in Vegas it’s on u brotha !!!! Congratulations my guy @DHunt94_TX #NFLSU https://t.co/dP8qc5OUtj
— Jamal Adams (@Prez) June 27, 2018
Your family and your life is forever secured. Congrats on the blessing you’ve been working for your whole life my fellow. @DHunt94_TX
— Frank Clark (@TheRealFrankC_) June 27, 2018
Congrats brother @DHunt94_TX #NFLSU https://t.co/iRDcFYawfA
— Davon Godchaux (@ChauxDown) June 27, 2018
https://twitter.com/TreWhite16/status/1012001495930335233
Yes, the NFL is a very competitive league and many players will do whatever it takes to achieve personal success. But at the same time, most of the guys around the NFL are genuinely happy when one of their colleagues gets a well-deserved contract.
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Hunter learned this on Wednesday as his hard work over the last three years was recognized by the Vikings and others from around the league.