The Minnesota Vikings have done a lot of housecleaning this offseason. Multiple veterans have been on the move as the team is transitioning from a lot of household names. This offseason alone, running back Dalvin Cook and wide receiver Adam Thielen were both released.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, cornerback Patrick Peterson and linebacker Eric Kendricks all left in free agency. Pass rusher Za’Darius Smith was traded to the Cleveland Browns as general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has made his presence felt in Year 2.
Looking to bring in more of his own players, more moves could be on the horizon. Is veteran defensive end Danielle Hunter the next to go? Hunter is entering the final season of his contract, as it voids in 2024. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Hunter and the Vikings aren’t seeing eye-to-eye on a new deal.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network also added that teams have inquired about his availability. It sounds like a divorce will eventually come between the Vikings and Hunter, it is just a matter of when.
Where could he end up? One potential suitor is the New Orleans Saints. Over at Bleacher Report, Maurice Moton cooked up a trade that sends the Pro Bowl pass rusher to the Big Easy. The suggested trade is Hunter heading to New Orleans in exchange for a 2024 second-round pick and defensive end Payton Turner.
Turner was a first-round pick of the Saints in 2021 but things have not panned out. He has appeared in only 13 games in his first two seasons and a change of scenery could do him well. In Minnesota, there would be plenty of more opportunities for playing time, especially with Hunter and Smith both being on the move.
The second-round pick is a nice asset for the Vikings to acquire as well. Adofo-Mensah is looking to reshape the roster a little bit and a second-round pick is a valuable piece of the puzzle to accomplishing that.
Combined with second-round pick Isaiah Foskey, the Vikings could have their next long-term pass-rushing tandem with the Notre Dame product and Turner. The Vikings also signed former Saint Marcus Davenport in free agency to bolster the team’s pass rush.
