06-22-2021, 12:19 PM
3. EDGE DANIELLE HUNTER, MINNESOTA VIKINGS: FIVE YEARS, $72 MILLION ($8.9 MILLION IN REMAINING GUARANTEES)Prior to missing the entire 2020 season with injury, Hunter had the most quarterback pressures among all edge rushers over the 2018-19 seasons with 154. Not only is this deal phenomenal value in hindsight, but at the time of signing, Hunter was just 23 years old coming off of 2016 and 2017 seasons in which he ranked top 20 in WAR among all edge rushers.
This contract was revised earlier in June, with the Vikings effectively converting it into a one-year deal with an ultimatum to extend or release after the 2021 season. Even so, when considering what Minnesota has been able to do the last several years in terms of spending, Hunter’s contract remains a top value league-wide.
7. S HARRISON SMITH, MINNESOTA VIKINGS: FIVE YEARS, $51.25 MILLION ($0 IN REMAINING GUARANTEES)
27. DI SHELDON RICHARDSON, MINNESOTA VIKINGS: ONE YEAR, $3.6 MILLION ($3 MILLION TOTAL GUARANTEED)Richardson was set to earn an $11.5 million 2021 base salary from the Cleveland Browns, and his release was probably a very difficult decision for a smart front office. There’s a reason, after all, that he wasn’t released until mid-April, a month into free agency, and not coincidentally two days after the signing of Jadeveon Clowney.
Minnesota will now have four defensive linemen that did not log a snap for them in 2020 — Danielle Hunter, Dalvin Tomlinson, Michael Pierce and Richardson — up front for 2021. Richardson ranked top-30 in WAR among interior defenders for the 2020 season, and per his recent comments, he won’t even technically be a “starter” on this new-look defense. So the Vikings landed a top-30 player from the prior season on a contract that ranks 56th in per-year average at the position, and they can keep him fresh all season long.
30. LB ERIC KENDRICKS, MINNESOTA VIKINGS: FIVE YEARS, $50 MILLION ($0 IN REMAINING GUARANTEES)Kendricks’ deal marks the third on this list that was signed by the Minnesota Vikings front office during the 2018 offseason. Their 2018 draft class, which also included CB Trae Waynes, is one of the best of the decade. They recognized this pretty much immediately and signed Diggs, Hunter and Kendricks to early extensions following the conclusion of their third seasons. Kendricks has continued to play at a top-10 level at off-ball linebacker, and his 91.2 coverage grade over the last two seasons — which ranks second — makes him the perfect player for the modern game at the position.
#1 was Diggs.
The common thread? All signed by Brez.
This contract was revised earlier in June, with the Vikings effectively converting it into a one-year deal with an ultimatum to extend or release after the 2021 season. Even so, when considering what Minnesota has been able to do the last several years in terms of spending, Hunter’s contract remains a top value league-wide.
7. S HARRISON SMITH, MINNESOTA VIKINGS: FIVE YEARS, $51.25 MILLION ($0 IN REMAINING GUARANTEES)
27. DI SHELDON RICHARDSON, MINNESOTA VIKINGS: ONE YEAR, $3.6 MILLION ($3 MILLION TOTAL GUARANTEED)Richardson was set to earn an $11.5 million 2021 base salary from the Cleveland Browns, and his release was probably a very difficult decision for a smart front office. There’s a reason, after all, that he wasn’t released until mid-April, a month into free agency, and not coincidentally two days after the signing of Jadeveon Clowney.
Minnesota will now have four defensive linemen that did not log a snap for them in 2020 — Danielle Hunter, Dalvin Tomlinson, Michael Pierce and Richardson — up front for 2021. Richardson ranked top-30 in WAR among interior defenders for the 2020 season, and per his recent comments, he won’t even technically be a “starter” on this new-look defense. So the Vikings landed a top-30 player from the prior season on a contract that ranks 56th in per-year average at the position, and they can keep him fresh all season long.
30. LB ERIC KENDRICKS, MINNESOTA VIKINGS: FIVE YEARS, $50 MILLION ($0 IN REMAINING GUARANTEES)Kendricks’ deal marks the third on this list that was signed by the Minnesota Vikings front office during the 2018 offseason. Their 2018 draft class, which also included CB Trae Waynes, is one of the best of the decade. They recognized this pretty much immediately and signed Diggs, Hunter and Kendricks to early extensions following the conclusion of their third seasons. Kendricks has continued to play at a top-10 level at off-ball linebacker, and his 91.2 coverage grade over the last two seasons — which ranks second — makes him the perfect player for the modern game at the position.
#1 was Diggs.
The common thread? All signed by Brez.
