5 Vikings players who could be cap casualties in 2022
By Adam Carlson
Danielle Hunter – DE
- 2022 cap hit: $26,120,000
- 2022 dead cap: $7,480,000
- Potential savings: $18.64M
When healthy, Danielle Hunter is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. He is a dominant force who can win one-on-one battles on a regular basis and would be a huge asset to any team that needs help getting after opposing quarterbacks.
The bad news is that Hunter has only played seven games in the last two seasons for Minnesota. Laying down a big contract for a player who might struggle to stay on the field is a big risk, and one the Vikings will have to ask themselves following this season.
It would be a little surprising if Hunter ends up actually having the $26.12 million cap hit that he is currently scheduled to have during the 2022 NFL season. While it would be nice to see him take a pay cut to stay in Minnesota, he could make an extremely large payday by signing with another team.
The release of Hunter would open up a huge hold in the Vikings’ defense but free up a ton of salary cap at the same time. At this moment, he is the most likely player to be on the chopping block this offseason despite only being 27-years-old.