The Vikings Must Take A Leap Of Faith On Danielle Hunter

Eagan MN

22 March, 2021

7:36 AM

Description

Press release from purplePTSD: March 21, 2021 Per OverTheCap.com, Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter is currently the NFL's 19th-highest-paid EDGE rusher. No matter how that is perceived, diced, or rationalized, it is a criminal occurrence. Hunter is among the league's top EDGE rushers, and he is compensated incompatibly. So, that's likely why Hunter and his agent have been posturing behind the scenes to remedy the malady. Although the following article by The Athletic was refuted by Hunter and his agent, some smoke is probably scentable from this mini-fire. Sources: Danielle Hunter remains unhappy with his current situation with the Vikings and is exploring all options, including a trade request. https://t.co/W7pQNfdtM2 — Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) March 15, 2021 It must also be noted that head coach Mike Zimmer and Hunter have reportedly talked in recent days. Ergo, this contractual matter may be underway for resolution. Danielle Hunter and Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer have had talks-Scoops w/ @DWolfsonKSTP -Future for Gophers MBB-Old Tweets Exposed: https://t.co/7WfVg5ewM7: https://t.co/aT7bXS5C98: https://t.co/MiqfqFnqDt: https://t.co/GF62Wgm7xb pic.twitter.com/MdTlCmOtGE — SKOR North (@SKORNorth) March 18, 2021 And the two should be talking. Hunter is underpaid. To date, he has "accepted" this monetary discrepancy for some damn reason. The happenstance of friction materializing now should have been foreseen from the moment Hunter signed his modest deal in June of 2018. The wildcard is Hunter's injury. Outwardly, it is an odd time for the 26-year-old to demand a pay raise. His 2020 season was lost to a neck injury. In a vacuum, the Vikings are justified in their desire to see how the LSU alumnus bounces back. But the franchise may not have that luxury. Zimmer, Spielman Cannot Afford a Mediocre Year Mike Zimmer enters his eighth year of purple employment when September arrives. On his watch, the Vikings are the NFL's eighth-best organization via wins and losses. Minnesota was supposed to contend for the NFC North during the pandemic season, but injuries wholly disallowed the plan's fruition. Injuries or no injuries – Zimmer must guide the Vikings to playoffs to secure employment into 2022. And, he likely needs to win at least one postseason game with a competent showing in the proceeding round. Marinating in a standstill with the team's most ferocious defensive player does not jell with the win-now stakes. The team needs Hunter recovered and happy for the defense to bootstrap-levitate from his fourth-worst standing via points allowed in 2020. If Hunter is "holding out" or traded as a result of non-agreement with the team, well, the franchise risks a regressive forecast in 2021 – one it absolutely cannot afford. Diggs-Trade Comparisons Irrelevant The end-game for discontent with Hunter is a trade. While Hunter would fetch a spunky trade package, there are no assurances that the Vikings would "win the trade." The temptation is to reference how swimmingly Minnesota waltzed out of the Stefon Diggs trade. General Manager Rick Spielman landed Justin Jefferson – who set an NFL rookie record for receiving yards last year – and more draft picks this April. But that should be considered a utopian outlier, not the norm. Spielman might just be a wizard that flips team-defining players for better assets. Yet, it is more likely that he "got lucky" with his personnel decision on Jefferson. Or, perhaps – he mixed experience and the aforementioned luck. Regardless, the Vikings cannot rely on a just-replace-him mentality if Hunter is indeed dealt to another NFL team – especially with the winning that must occur in 2021 for the job security of leadership. Consider It Back Pay The Vikings had no pass rush in 2020, primarily because Hunter missed all 16 games. Therefore, the "free" money he accrued last year for not playing was not earned on the field. But that is the nature of professional football. Players are paid even when beset by injury. Hunter was underpaid dating back to 2018. That pedestrian deal he inked – although fabulous for the Vikings salary cap – was ludicrous compared to his performance. If one cannot wrap his/her brain around paying a guy returning from a spooky injury, then let's pivot to the back pay element. Hunter agreed to pay at a reduced contractual rate for 2018 and 2019 – the team owes it to him as reimbursement for 2021 and beyond. Spielman plucked Hunter out of the 2015 NFL Draft. That draft will live in Vikings lore for decades. Linebacker Eric Kendricks was scooped in the 2nd-Round. Hunter was a 3rd-Round asset. Diggs was a 5th-Round gem. A trade of Hunter to a different team squanders that draft class. Kendricks would bet the last man standing. Minnesota must [and probably will] take a leap of faith on Hunter's 2021 return from injury. This press release was produced by purplePTSD. The views expressed here are the author's own.