Danielle Hunter – OLB
Danielle Hunter is quietly having another solid season for the Vikings and one that is certainly Pro Bowl-worthy. The guy has 62 tackles on the season with 10.5 sacks. If we compare those numbers to Za’Darius Smith, who did get voted in, Hunter has 21 more tackles and half a sack more.
It makes one wonder why he isn’t in, and the only guess can be consistency. Hunter has had some dry stretches this season. He’s gone as long as three games in a row without a sack and also had a few where he’s had just two tackles.
A reason for the lack of consistency is how his defensive coordinator Ed Donatell is using him. Hunter has been asked to drop back into coverage multiple times and often is tasked with setting the edge and eating up blocks.
He doesn’t get free reign to the quarterback every time they drop back, which means the opportunities for sacks aren’t always going to be there.
Despite the misuse of his talents, Hunter is overcoming his defensive coordinator and having another solid season, a season that is worthy of a Pro Bowl bid.