Danielle Hunter isn't going anywhere.
The Minnesota Vikings and Hunter have agreed to terms to a new one-year deal worth up to $20 million for the 2023 NFL season, NFL Network Insiders Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport reported Sunday, per sources.
The deal includes $17 million fully guaranteed and a provision that prevents Hunter from receiving a franchise or transition tag in 2024, per Rapoport and Pelissero.
Hunter had found himself briefly in limbo with the Vikings, which listened to trade offers for the three-time Pro Bowler. It felt possible Hunter could be moved to culminate an offseason that saw Minnesota release Dalvin Cook, trade Za’Darius Smith and let Dalvin Tomlinson walk in free agency.
Hunter's absence early in training camp only fanned the flames of a potential exit, but Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell maintained a positive outlook all along, most recently telling NFL Network he hopes to "work towards" a compromise on Saturday.
In the end, the Vikings bring back their leading pass rusher from a year ago with 10.5 sacks. After losing Smith's and Tomlinson's pressure, the Vikings need as many sources as possible on the defensive front going forward.
Hunter, 28, suffered season-ending injuries in 2020 (neck) and 2021 (torn pectoral), costing him a total of 26 games. But his 2022 season was strong enough to prove Hunter was back to full health and convince the Vikings to ink a premium deal for this season.
Hunter will be a free agent again next spring and could cash in on a long-term deal then.
