Minnesota Vikings linebacker Danielle Hunter didn’t say much across the months in which NFL analysts bandied his name about in various trade rumors.
On Thursday, November 2, the star edge-rusher explained why.
“I’ve had people talk to me about that, but it was never really anything in the back of my head. I was always going to be here,” Hunter told reporters in front of his locker. “There’s always some stuff going on with that, and you don’t ask me, you ask the [general manager]. My job is to play football, and that’s why I’m here. I’ve always loved doing what I’m doing, so I don’t pay attention to outside noise.”
Danielle Hunter Having Career Year After Tense Contract Talks with Vikings Over Summer
Hunter’s tone didn’t indicate that he was upset by the rumors encircling him after the Vikings got off to a difficult 1-4 start. And it is hard to argue that dealing Hunter wasn’t a logical path forward at the time.
The Vikings will still need to navigate Hunter’s unrestricted free agency next spring and the odds are at least even money the franchise loses him then for nothing. Hunter made noise about wanting a trade or a new contract throughout the summer. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was willing to go no farther than to up the outside linebacker’s base salary from around $5 million to $17 million guaranteed in 2023, a figure that can rise to $20 million with incentives.
But then the Vikings staged a revival of their campaign, as quarterback Kirk Cousins led the team on a three-game winning streak. The math on Minnesota’s season changed dramatically, bumping its playoff chances to well above 50%, per ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI). At that point, shopping the most successful pass-rusher in football through eight weeks no longer made sense for a franchise with a clear path to back-to-back playoff appearances amid a competitive rebuild.
Hunter is leading the NFL in sacks (10) and tackles for loss (12), per Pro Football Reference. He’s also generated 17 QB pressures, forced 3 fumbles and recorded 2 pass breakups. The NFL on Thursday named Hunter its NFC Defensive Player of the Month for October.
