Should they trade Hunter?

@"MarkSP18" said: I do not think they will or should trade Hunter.  It would be selling low.

The Vikings re-did his deal last year and moved most of his 2022 salary and a good part of his 2023 salary into the 18M roster bonus that is payable on the 5th day of the new league year (March of 20220.  They also added two void years which was very smart by Brez.

I expect that they will take all (or most) of that 18M roster bonus and convert it to a restructure bonus and create needed cap space.  They do not need his permission to do this salary cap accounting move either.

For example, they can convert 12M which would lower his cap hit to 17.12M from the 26.12M which saves 9M.
In 2023, his cap hit rises to 11.62M from 8.62M.  Since the 2023 cap will likely be at about 220M or more, they can easily handle this increase.

It is fortunate that he has not played (not for this season) because it allows them to NOT give him a new deal (how can he ask for one after not playing the last two years) and allows both sides to see if he is truly worth a massive deal.  Win win.  IMHO.

If I am GM, I convert most of that roster bonus (depending on what else I wanted to do) and let him prove that he has can play 16 games and produce like he has in the past.

He has no leverage for a new contract.

I agree with most of this...Not the time to trade DH who has an awful lot of tread left. 

He'll have some leverage of course, but the guaranteed portion of a contract may be trickiest. 

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"MarkSP18" said: I do not think they will or should trade Hunter.  It would be selling low.

The Vikings re-did his deal last year and moved most of his 2022 salary and a good part of his 2023 salary into the 18M roster bonus that is payable on the 5th day of the new league year (March of 20220.  They also added two void years which was very smart by Brez.

I expect that they will take all (or most) of that 18M roster bonus and convert it to a restructure bonus and create needed cap space.  They do not need his permission to do this salary cap accounting move either.

For example, they can convert 12M which would lower his cap hit to 17.12M from the 26.12M which saves 9M.
In 2023, his cap hit rises to 11.62M from 8.62M.  Since the 2023 cap will likely be at about 220M or more, they can easily handle this increase.

It is fortunate that he has not played (not for this season) because it allows them to NOT give him a new deal (how can he ask for one after not playing the last two years) and allows both sides to see if he is truly worth a massive deal.  Win win.  IMHO.

If I am GM, I convert most of that roster bonus (depending on what else I wanted to do) and let him prove that he has can play 16 games and produce like he has in the past.

He has no leverage for a new contract.

I agree with most of this...Not the time to trade DH who has an awful lot of tread left. 

He'll have some leverage of course, but the guaranteed portion of a contract may be trickiest. 

@"Vikergirl" said: https://heavy.com/sports/minnesota-vikings/danielle-hunter-new-york-jets-trade-rumors/

Curiosity led me to look at the Jets' salary cap for 2022 and they have a lot of space.  North of $50 million.  However, it's all in their defensive line and specifically defensive end.  These people should do a little research before posting reckless speculation like that!!

C.J. Mosley	ILB	$16,000,000	$1,500,000	-	-	-	-	-	($20,500,000)	$17,500,000	8.20
Carl Lawson	DE	$15,000,000	$333,333	-	-	-	-	-	($15,666,667)	$15,333,333	7.19
Corey Davis	WR	$13,000,000	$666,666	-	-	-	-	-	($14,333,334)	$13,666,666	6.40
John Franklin-Myers	DE	$1,500,000	$400,000	$10,500,000	-	$100,000	-	-	($13,700,000)	$12,500,000	5.86
George Fant	RT	$9,250,000	$1,000,000	$400,000	-	-	-	-	($1,000,000)	$10,650,000	4.99
Quinnen Williams	DE	$965,000	$5,419,431	$4,165,823	-	-	-	-	($10,350,254)	$10,550,254	4.94
Connor McGovern	C	$9,000,000	$1,333,334	-	-	-	-	-	($1,333,334)	$10,333,334	4.84
Shaq Lawson	DE	$8,900,000	-	-	-	$100,000	-	-	-	$9,000,000	4.22
Zach Wilson	QB	$2,257,758	$5,731,033	-	-	-	-	-	($28,759,647)	$7,988,791	3.74
Sheldon Rankins	DT	$4,500,000	$750,000	$1,000,000	-	-	-	-	($750,000)	$6,250,000	2.93

Not saying its in play,  but the Jets waived Lawson today. 

I have to admit that I'd be talking to Hunter's agent about a contract negotiation regarding escalators for actual game minutes...and/or making him trade bait.  I love the kid, but he's dead money and he never took over a game the way an in-prime Von Miller or similar has.  He can be good, amazing...but I'd say that he might be a parallel to the "Cousins isn't elite" argument.

Maybe he just needs a better scheme, and to be fully healed...I don't know.  I just know that we spent all offseason worried about losing him, and most of the season not having him, anyway, after not having him last season.

He and Barr both cost a ton of money for limited time...