The former All-Pro DE of Rival is expected to sign a $67 million contract with the Lions.
This offseason, the Detroit Lions plan to strengthen their pass defense. However, David Kenyon of Bleacher Report believed the Lions would accomplish it without having to leave the NFC North.Kenyon predicted that Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter would sign a three-year, $67 million contract with the Lions.
Hunter was guaranteed $51 million, according to Kenyon’s forecast.
In five of his eight seasons, Hunter has had ten or more sacks, and in 2023, he recorded a career-high 16.5. Kenyon wrote. There has never been a greater value than his. Although Minnesota’s financial situation is unfortunate due to their own actions, the NFC North opponent, the Detroit Lions, have a significant need for a pass rusher.
In 2018, Hunter made the second team All-Pro. Additionally, he has appeared in four of the previous five Pro Bowls, including 2022 and 2023.
In 2023, Hunter led the NFL with 23 tackles for loss and recorded a career-high 16.5 sacks. In addition, he had four forced fumbles and 22 quarterback hits.
How the Lions Could Use Danielle Hunter
Hunter makes a lot of sense for Detroit, despite the fact that he will reach 32 before the end of his three-year contract.
Last season, the Lions led the league in several analytical pass-rushing metrics, including pressure rate, hurry percentage, and quarterback knockdown rate. With 41 sacks, they were tied for 23rd place nonetheless.
Together, defensive lineman Elim McNeill and defensive end Aidan Hutchinson accounted for 16.5 of the 41 sacks. With three or more, no other Lions defender had it.
If Hunter is signed, the Lions will have a Pro Bowl-caliber edge rusher to complement Hutchinson. Hutchinson could perform better with Hunter around, which may result in the two rushers alone accounting for 30 to 35 sacks.
In his eight years in the NFL, Hunter has recorded five double-digit sacks. He has only failed to reach 10 sacks in the previous five years once, in 2021, when he appeared in just seven games.
James Houston, a second-year defender, was anticipated to be Hutchinson’s complementary edge rusher going into 2023. However, Houston’s ankle injury from Week 2 kept him out of action for the majority of the 2023 campaign.
Houston might still play a big role in Detroit’s future. However, that shouldn’t deter the Lions from going after Hunter, an already excellent edge rusher.
Hunter, who just had a career-high season in sacks, tackles, tackles for loss, and tackles, has the ability to elevate Detroit’s defensive line to the status of one of the best in the NFL.
What Edge Rusher Will the Lions Draft in 2024?
On paper, Hunter is a fantastic pickup for the Lions. Whether general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell think he fits in with the team’s culture is the question.
Another query could be about age.Hunter, who turns 30 in October, might never reach his 2023 numbers again.
Despite being Super Bowl candidates going into 2024, Holmes made it obvious in his postseason press conference that the team isn’t looking for temporary fixes.
On February 5, Holmes told reporters, “Every step Dan and I make has been done to sustain what we are building.” “Every action we take—and I mean every action we do not take—is to maintain the foundation we have been laying.”
Therefore, it’s worth considering whether the Lions might rather seek a young edge rusher in the draft, even though signing Hunter would undoubtedly make a splash.
The Lions are associated with a number of edge rushers who may be available late in the first round, according to early NFL mock drafts.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com projected on February 5 that Detroit would select Missouri defensive tackle Darius Robinson with the 29th pick overall.
Additionally, the Lions were reportedly pursuing Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson, according to NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks.
Furthermore, Dane Brugler of The Athletic predicted that the Lions would select Ohio State edge rusher JT Tuimoloau, while Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic predicted that Texas defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat would be selected by the Lions.
Although Detroit has been associated with other positions in the first round, it makes the most sense to select a player who can strengthen the team’s pass defense.
Last season, the Lions were 29th in net passing yards yielded per attempt and 27th in passing yards allowed.
