On Tuesday, the Minnesota Vikings revealed that Pro Bowl pass rusher Danielle Hunter has joined the rest of his teammates and reported to the team's training camp.
Given that he is currently due to only make $5.5 million during the upcoming season, many have been wondering if veteran Minnesota Vikings pass rusher Danielle Hunter would show up to the team's training camp this summer.
Well, that question was answered on Tuesday when the remaining Vikings players reported to the team's training camp at the TCO Performance Center, and according to Minnesota head coach Kevin O'Connell, Hunter was among those who reported.
Head Coach Kevin O'Connell says that @DHunt94_TX has reported to #VikingsCamp but doesn't anticipate him to be a full participant right away. pic.twitter.com/S9sbGGq3MR
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) July 25, 2023
Danielle Hunter is at Minnesota Vikings training camp, but there's a catch
Hunter showing up to camp on Tuesday should make Vikings fans feel a little more optimistic about his chances to remain with the team for the upcoming season and beyond. However, there are still a few things that need to be worked out before Minnesota can guarantee the Pro Bowl pass rusher will be on the field for their 2023 opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Hunter is obviously looking to get paid more than the $5.5 million he's currently scheduled to make this year, and rightfully so. He's coming off a 2022 season that resulted in him earning a spot on the Pro Bowl roster for the third time in his career after he finished 10.5 sacks and 65 total tackles.
Hunter will turn 29 in October, and he's missed 26 games in the last three seasons due to injury, so it's understandable if the Vikings have concerns about giving the veteran pass rusher a lucrative, multi-year extension this summer.
Plus, we've already seen Minnesota move on from some longtime contributors this offseason in Adam Thielen, Eric Kendricks, and Dalvin Cook. Could Hunter be the next to go?
It sounds like the Vikings would like to keep Hunter on their roster for the 2023 campaign. But if a deal can't be worked out that satisfies both sides, then don't be surprised if Minnesota decides to part ways with him before they take on the Bucs in Week 1.