Fresh off a big performance at LSU's pro day, defensive end/outside linebacker Danielle Hunter is about to start racking up the frequent flyer miles.
Appearing on NFL Media analyst Gil Brandt's SiriusXM show, Hunter revealed that he has lined up several pre-draft visits with teams in need of an edge rusher, including the Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, and Tennessee Titans.
With the exception of the Titans, all of those clubs hold a pick in the bottom half of the first round and are in the market to get at least one player in the draft who can rush the passer. Hunter also met with the Pittsburgh Steelers while in Baton Rouge, and they could be another team that seriously considers taking him the draft.
While the first round might be a little early to consider Hunter, his stock is certainly up after he impressed a number of teams with his workout at pro day last week. Some scouts even told Brandt that Hunter blew them out of the water and is a better prospect than former top-10 pick Barkevious Mingo was in 2013.
That's lofty praise, but a quick look at Hunter's obvious physical talent and upside makes it easy to understand why some teams could start to fall in love with him as the draft nears.
The one concern that NFL Media analysts Mike Mayock and Daniel Jeremiah have with Hunter is that his production with the Tigers didn't quite seem to match his upside. As a result, he remains a bit of a mystery when it comes to projecting how his skills will translate to the next level.
But as the saying goes, all it takes is one team to fall in love, and it appears that several clubs around the league already have Hunter on their radar.
You can follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.
