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Stop Panicking Over Danielle Hunter's Contracthttps://zonecoverage.com/2022/minnesota-vikings-news/stop-panicking-over-danielle-hunters-contract/
Much ink, virtual or otherwise, has been spilled over Danielle Hunter‘s pending contract situation. He carries a $26 million cap hit in 2022 and has suffered season-ending injuries in back-to-back years. In that linked piece, Chris Schad argues for trading Danielle Hunter to generate some cap relief. It’s a natural instinct this time of year. Look at the Minnesota Vikings’ books on a cap website like OverTheCap.com, find the biggest savings, and come to grips with losing that player. Oh, Chris, ye of little creativity. Dumping Hunter off to avoid paying his $18 million roster bonus would miss out on significantly superior options.
Before going into the details, let me give you the broad strokes. The Danielle Hunter contract is a genuine extension with a failsafe worked in. The Vikings had every intention of paying Hunter out in earnest. They just installed an eject button that they can hit this offseason if Hunter’s neck didn’t hold up. That’s all you need to know. But if you’re interested in understanding how it works, keep reading....
I think the real questions about DH are: (a) fit in a 3-4 and (b) buy low, sell high.
Quote: @VikingOracle said:
I think the real questions about DH are: (a) fit in a 3-4 and (b) buy low, sell high.
…..what makes you thinknwe can sell high on a guy who has missed the past two seasons?
Quote: @VikingOracle said:
I think the real questions about DH are: (a) fit in a 3-4 and (b) buy low, sell high.
His health and durability might be a question.
Its a good article but one clarifier is that all roster bonus' aren't treated equally. So the $18M has no bearing on if Hunter plays in games next season or is on the roster at all. If the contract isn't voided by 3/20/22 he is getting the $18M.
So given what we know today, why would Danielle and his agent just move money around (the $18M) knowing the Vikings could just pay it out as a signing bonus as suggested in the article? With that outcome Danielle and his agent accomplished absolutely nothing besides guaranteeing money.
The subtle nuance in the restructure is that Danielle's 2022 base salary was reduced to $1.4M. Besides the amortized $3M in signing bonus, this is the only money the Vikings could go after if Danielle held out prior to the season. So you'd effectively be paying $18M in March with the risk Danielle would hold out with that money in hand risking his $4.4M. On-top of that once the roster bonus date hits the dead money on the deal would make it tough to trade or release him. That is why this is the mechanism to force everyone back to the table.
Ultimately the Vikings will need to do one of 3 things with Danielle:
1. Push back the roster bonus date and/or alter the structure of the contract once again to allow him to attempt to prove his health again.
2. Trade/Release him prior to 3/20
3. Re-sign him to a new deal.
My guess is that they likely will attempt to do #3 and sign him to a deal in the neighborhood of the high-end pass rushers. Say $25M a year on average. With the extension they can still lower his 2022 cap number considerably. Based on the health issues it would be more of pay as you go deal with limited long-term guarantees. Likely 2022 & 23 for less than his scheduled cap hits now and then year to year. If that doesn't work out, there will be a trade market.
Quote: @VikingOracle said:
I think the real questions about DH are: (a) fit in a 3-4 and (b) buy low, sell high.
What is hunters worth as 4-3 DE in a 3-4 coming off 2 years of injuries?
Non rhetorical question.
Quote: @Mattyman said:
@ VikingOracle said:
I think the real questions about DH are: (a) fit in a 3-4 and (b) buy low, sell high.
What is hunters worth as 4-3 DE in a 3-4 coming off 2 years of injuries?
Non rhetorical question.
We don't know what he is a 3-4 OLB or how he would be used, so I'd say the high value for him is as a DE where he accumulated more sacks then anybody in the league before 25 years old. When healthy he is a dominant force and he's still young. It's no coincidence that we had the worst years defensively under Zim the last two years while Hunter was injured. He's a closer. Just like Aaron Donald in the Super Bowl, Hunter is a closer and that type of talent.
Quote: @supafreak84 said:
@ Mattyman said:
@ VikingOracle said:
I think the real questions about DH are: (a) fit in a 3-4 and (b) buy low, sell high.
What is hunters worth as 4-3 DE in a 3-4 coming off 2 years of injuries?
Non rhetorical question.
We don't know what he is a 3-4 OLB or how he would be used, so I'd say the high value for him is as a DE where he accumulated more sacks then anybody in the league before 25 years old. When healthy he is a dominant force and he's still young. It's no coincidence that we had the worst years defensively under Zim the last two years while Hunter was injured. He's a closer. Just like Aaron Donald in the Super Bowl, Hunter is a closer and that type of talent.
High potential, I would argue that his value is low due to his absence the last 2 years, sure the injuries are unrelated, but how likely is it that his injuries are a chronic thing, the human body was only supposed to be handle so much and a guy like Hunter is pushing his to the limits and beyond.
I’ve looked at his contract quite a bit and Geoff is spot on in my opinion. Those are the only viable options I see. I think they’re trying to do something now, but I expect he’ll end up being traded in the next month.
Why traded? First, I wonder what Hunter thinks of the scheme change? His role would change and he’d likely spend more time out in space and at full tilt and colliding with guys doing the same. I just wonder about that neck injury, because that’s the kind you want to be reasonably careful with. I see staying in a normal 4-3 as being the best option for him long term. On the Vikings side of it, I think going a different route may be the way to go. With the upcoming draft loaded with edge rusher talent, now is the time.
As to what he’ll bring? I just don’t know. The good news for him and the Vikings is the injury this year wasn’t the same as the neck. There’s a chance a team will be more likely to chalk it up to simply bad luck. Considering the guy may have many years left, he may bring a decent return. The cap savings of course, would really help.
Hunter, Cook and Cousin all need to be put up to the highest bidder.
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