With the Super Bowl officially in the books, the NFL world now has its collective eye on free agency. Minnesota Vikings pass rusher Danielle Hunter has a clear path to the open market, as the team cannot use the franchise tag to bring him back for another season. This means that, unless the two sides agree to a long-term deal before March, Hunter will be able to negotiate a new contract with all 32 teams and look for the best offer.
Pass rushers are some of the most important players in the game, and there aren’t many better than Danielle Hunter. The former third-round pick is coming off a career season, recording 16.5 sacks, 83 tackles, 22 quarterback hits, and a league-high 23 tackles for loss. There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that this guy is going to break the bank, and a recent report indicates that there are already frontrunners for his services.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Danielle Hunter is going to have “a very strong market” and the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars are currently the two favorites to sign him.
Two Teams Considered Frontrunners For Free Agent Danielle Hunter
It’s easy to see why both teams mentioned would be interested in signing Danielle Hunter. The Bears are an obvious choice, as the team has a lot of holes to fill on the roster. The team already locked up Montez Sweat on a long-term deal, but they could use another pass rusher. With over $49 million in cap space, they could easily sign Hunter without sacrificing their ability to craft a well-rounded roster.
The Jacksonville Jaguars, meanwhile, finished the 2023 season with the fewest sacks in the league. This is simply unacceptable, especially when you have someone as good as Josh Allen on your roster. The Jaguars will keep Allen around in 2024, and they should look to sign someone like Danielle Hunter as a complementary pass rusher. However, the team only has $17.2 million in cap space, most of which will go to Allen if they have to use the franchise tag. So, one must wonder if Jacksonville can afford a top-priced free agent like Hunter, or if they should maybe trade for someone like Haason Reddick.
These two teams might be the frontrunners for Danielle Hunter, but they definitely won’t be the only teams interested in his services. After all, Fowler’s report indicates that there will be a “strong market” for services, and that means more than two teams. In no particular order, these three teams could also make a push for his services.
Other Potential Free Agent Fits
Washington Commanders
Fixing the Washington Commanders defense is not going to be easy for head coach Dan Quinn. Fortunately, he has the most cap space in the NFL, so he can afford to splurge on free agents like Danielle Hunter. Hunter won’t singlehandedly fix this defense, but he would easily be the best pass rusher on the team. If nothing else, he’s a good first step in the right direction, and Washington should have plenty of money left over to add another pass rusher and a reliable cornerback.
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers need help everywhere, and that includes the defense. If Brian Burns leaves in free agency, then the team will need to find someone capable of getting after the quarterback. If he sticks around, then Danielle Hunter could help form an elite pass rushing duo. While most of Carolina’s resources should go to the offensive side of the ball, they have the salary cap room to sign a great pass rusher like Hunter.
New Orleans Saints
Year after year, the New Orleans Saints always find a way to dig themselves out of salary cap hell in time for free agency. For the sake of this article, we’re going to assume they do it again, as Dennis Allen will not survive another year without making the playoffs. This team needs to find another reliable pass rusher on the edge, and there aren’t many better than Danielle Hunter. Ideally, Isaiah Foskey will make a Year 2 leap, but the Saints can’t afford to bank on that.
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