Getty Defensive end Danielle Hunter of the Minnesota Vikings.
The Cleveland Browns have constructed a formidable roster this offseason, but they still have one considerable void to address at a premium position on defense.
Cleveland hopes to bring back Jadeveon Clowney next season to play opposite its All-Pro pass rusher Myles Garrett. To that end, the Browns offered Clowney a two year deal worth $24 million on March 18, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz. The team reworked the contract of recently acquired wide receiver Amari Cooper to clear $15 million in cap space toward that end, per a report from Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.
But if the Browns are unable to get that deal done, they will need another edge defender to round out the front seven. One name the Browns have considered to replace Clowney in that role is defensive end Danielle Hunter of the Minnesota Vikings.
The #Browns have reportedly “looked into” trading for #Vikings DE Danielle Hunter
(Per @JFowlerESPN)
“The #Browns have reportedly “looked into” trading for #Vikings DE Danielle Hunter,” Fansided editor Adam Patrick tweeted Monday, March 21.
Hunter was a Pro Bowl selection in both 2018 and 2019. Over the course of those two seasons he amassed 142 tackles, including 36 tackles for loss, 41 quarterback hits, 29 sacks, three forced fumbles and a defensive touchdown. Hunter has been snakebitten by injury ever since, missing the entirety of the 2020 season with a neck injury and playing only seven games in 2021 due to a torn pectoral.
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Browns Can Still Trade for Hunter After Vikings Paid $18 Million Roster Bonus
GettyDefensive end Danielle Hunter #99 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 10, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
As part of his tweet, Patrick cited a March 19 report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that indicated the Vikings had received interest from “multiple teams” about a potential trade for Hunter.
Three days prior to that, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that Minnesota was actively attempting to trade its star pass rusher.
As the #Vikings try to sort out their cap situation, sources continue to say they’ve been trying to trade Danielle Hunter, who’s got an $18 million roster bonus due on Sunday.
Hunter has a $25.83M cap figure. The Vikings need to clear space to make their new deals official.
“As the #Vikings try to sort out their cap situation, sources continue to say they’ve been trying to trade Danielle Hunter, who’s got an $18 million roster bonus due on Sunday [March 20],” Goessling tweeted. “Hunter has a $25.83M cap figure. The Vikings need to clear space to make their new deals official.”
That deadline came and went, and the Vikings paid out the $18 million roster bonus to Hunter. However, Minnesota can work around that payment by converting it to four consecutive signing bonuses. Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press laid out the details of the situation Sunday.
“The Vikings have had the right to convert the amount to a signing bonus without [Hunter’s] consent, and could spread it among four years left on his contract (including two voidable years),” Tomasson wrote. “That could clear $13.5 million on the cap.”
The Vikings recently restructured the contract of wide receiver Adam Thielen, which Tomasson said cleared around $5 million in cap space and gave the team approximately $6.5 million in total breathing room. Adding $13.5 million to the mix puts Minnesota’s remaining roster budget at around $20 million.
The Vikings continue to consider several upgrades at multiple positions, including cornerback and along the offensive line. As such, trading Hunter to the Browns — or elsewhere — may still make sense for Minnesota depending on what path the team chooses to take forward.
Vikings Hosted Former Packers OLB Za’Darius Smith Monday
GettyZa’Darius Smith, formerly of the Green Bay Packers, celebrates after defeating the Los Angeles Rams 32-18 in the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Lambeau Field on January 16, 2021 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
The Vikings’ plans for 2022 became somewhat clearer on Monday when they hosted former Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith to a meeting in Minneapolis.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero was first to report that the meeting was taking place.
“Former #Packers OLB Za’Darius Smith is headed to Minnesota today for a visit with the #Vikings, per sources,” Pelissero tweeted. “Smith’s original deal with the #Ravens fell apart. Could he stay in the NFC North instead?”
While Smith’s trip to Minnesota is not a definite indicator that the team wants to move on from Hunter, it seems to signal one of two likelihoods: that the Vikings are looking to load up a dual threat pass rush of their own in 2022, or the team will try to trade Hunter if they can sign Smith to a more favorable deal.
In the latter case, the Browns would still have a shot to land Hunter, though the negotiation with Clowney needs to reach a conclusion before Cleveland makes any kind of move.