The Detroit Lions are expected to address the team’s weak pass defense this offseason. Bleacher Report’s David Kenyon, though, predicted the Lions to do that without needing to leave the NFC North. Kenyon projected the Lions to sign Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter to a 3-year, $67 million deal.
Kenyon’s projection included $51 million guaranteed for Hunter.
“Hunter has notched 10-plus sacks in five of his eight seasons and tallied a career-best 16.5 in 2023,” Kenyon wrote. “His value, quite literally, has never been higher. While it’s bad (self-inflicted) financial timing for Minnesota, the NFC North-rival Detroit Lions are lurking with a major pass-rushing need.”
Hunter made second-team All-Pro in 2018. He’s also been a Pro Bowler in four of the past five seasons, including 2022 and 2023.
In 2023, Hunter posted a career-high 16.5 sacks and led the NFL with 23 tackles for loss. He also had 22 quarterback hits and 4 forced fumbles.
How Danielle Hunter Could Fit With the Lions
Although he will turn 32 years old before the end of a 3-year contract, Hunter makes a lot of sense for Detroit.
The Lions were first in a lot of analytic pass rushing categories last season such as pressure rate, hurry percentage and quarterback knockdown rate. However, they were tied for 23rd in sacks with 41.
Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and defensive tackle Alim McNeill combined to tally 16.5 of those 41 sacks. No other Lions defender had more than 3.
Landing Hunter would give the Lions a Pro Bowl level edge rusher opposite Hutchinson. Hunter’s presence should raise Hutchinson’s level of play, leading to potentially 30-35 sacks between the two rushers alone.
