The Minnesota Vikings have come to an agreement on a new deal with their linebacker Danielle Hunter. According to the team’s announcement over the weekend, Hunter inked an improved one-year deal for the 2023 season.
Hunter previously missed the team activities in the offseason and didn’t participate in training camp practices as he looked for an increase on his $4.9 million base salary.
While the Viking didn’t share the financial details of the agreement, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that Hunter will receive $17 million guaranteed for 2023, with another $3 million coming his way if he meets certain incentives. The deal will also prevent Minnesota from placing a franchise tag on the 28-year-old player next offseason.
According to multiple reports, the Vikings considered trading Hunter in previous weeks due to the player’s unhappiness with his contract situation. There were more than a few teams interested, but the franchise didn’t feel the offers were good enough for them to part with one of their standout performers.
Danielle Hunter entered the league in 2015 as the Vikings’ third-round selection. He had double-digit sacks in three of his first five seasons as a pro while also earning two Pro Bowl nods and a Second-team All-Pro selection.
However, Hunter ended up missing the entire 2020 campaign after undergoing neck surgery and was limited to seven games in 2021 due to a torn pectoral muscle. He bounced back last season, playing all 17 games and getting 10.5 sacks, but this apparently still wasn’t enough to convince the Vikings to give him a new long-term deal.
