August 27, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Daniel Hunter is the defensive end of the Minnesota Vikings. Compulsory Credit: Danny Medley-USA Today Sports.
Does this May feel a little stress-free for the Minnesota Vikings? It should.
At this time last year, Vikings viewers asked “Still healthy?” And “Will he agree to the financial terms?” Pro Bowl EDGE Discussion of Rasha’s Daniel Hunter.
They’re not happening now in 2022 – a refreshing change of pace missing any melodrama.
In 2021, Hunter is recovering from a neck injury – one of the scariest areas on the body for an athlete to rehabilitate. Also, he was paid less because of his contract and fans wondered if Hunter would return at all. It was also the same news cycle when Hunter “liked” tweets from fans offering Hunter trades to the Tennessee Titans or Las Vegas Raiders. You know, crushing social media in general.
This year is completely different for Hunters and Vikings.
The 27-year-old was all smiles at the Vikings Minicamp on Tuesday, apparently ready to join free-agent signer Jaderius Smith for quarterback destruction this September.
And Hunter Feedback aboutt His $ 18 million roster bonus, “I wasn’t really worried about it. My biggest concern was going through my rehabilitation and coming back to play football. By agreement, I let those agents deal with my agent and GM. “
Hunter has missed 81% of football games in the last two years, banking on a full season of good health in 2022. If so, the guy is rounding out the major years of his career and will surely get paid more to keep up with his pre-2020 performance. For a while – because he missed 26 games in two years – the Vikings existed in a subtle place, balancing Hunter’s other mundane production against the lack of availability on the field.
Last year’s “hustle and bustle” was about paying a man who had just returned from a terrible neck injury, which could derail players’ careers.
But there is nothing wrong with that injury or money this spring. New General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah kept those items in the rearview when Hunter’s roster bonus hit the books a few months ago.
Therefore, Adopho-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell’s honeymoon may continue through the summer – until the regular season arrives.
One final interesting note: When Hunter sets foot on the field in September, it will be his first professional without Everson Griffin on the Vikings roster.
Unless Griffin must re-sign. He is a free agent.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to her daily YouTube channel, VikesNow. She Hosts a podcast With Bryant McKinney, which airs every Wednesday Raun Sai And Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking Fandom dates back to 1996. Listed Criminal Pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos’ and The Doors (Band).
