What are the pros and cons of the Minnesota Vikings paying top dollar to defensive end Danielle Hunter?
The Minnesota Vikings are facing a potential problem with Danielle Hunter. The stud defensive end is officially out for the season after undergoing surgery on a herniated disc in his neck, which is the latest in a series of blows during a season that has been nothing short of a disaster.
There is no denying Hunter’s ability, which is game-changing. The Vikings struck gold with the former LSU standout who was a third-round steal that has gone on to become one of the NFL’s best at getting after the quarterback.
Hunter signed a five-year, $72 million deal that included $40 million guaranteed, which still has three years left to run. However, given the bumper contracts given to players at the position this offseason, it has made the edge rusher look differently about what exactly he is worth.
According to Ian Rappaport of the NFL Network, the Vikings have to “make Hunter the NFL’s highest-paid defensive lineman or trade him”, which seems like the sort of ultimatum that never normally ends well for the team involved.
This is a situation that Minnesota has to handle carefully. They hold all the cards at the moment but as we saw with wide receiver Stefon Diggs, if a player wants to leave then there is little anyone can do to stop them.
Bowing to Hunter’s reported demands would be a gamble, especially as he hasn’t played a snap this season. Here are two pros and two cons regarding a complex predicament Minnesota might find itself in sooner rather than later.