Right: A huge debut on the list
The fact that Danielle Hunter hadn’t appeared on the list before this year is amazing, but it’s great that he’s finally getting the respect he deserves for being an athletic freak who makes the lives of opposing quarterbacks extremely difficult on a regular basis.
Hunter has accumulated 34 sacks in his last three years wearing purple and gold, with his highest output yet coming in 2018 when he notched 14.5 quarterback takedowns. Plus, it’s not his first time earning double-digit sacks, as he had 12.5 in 2016.
With a big contract extension in place, the 24-year-old defensive end should be expected to continue to be a wrecking ball. If Everson Griffen can stay healthy opposite him on the line, another year with ten or more sacks should on the hungry young man’s plate.
Being number 57 on the list after not appearing the previous years may seem like a crazy thing, but it makes up for the snubs during the previous years. A Second-Team All-Pro nod in 2018 to go with his first Pro Bowl appearance may have helped voters realize where he should be on the list.