Danielle Hunter could lead the NFL in sacks in 2017
The Minnesota Vikings may have the best kept secret in the NFL in Danielle Hunter, who could lead the NFL in sacks in 2017…
The Minnesota Vikings may have the best kept secret in the entire league in defensive end Danielle Hunter, the 6-foot-6, 260 pound defensive end who had 12.5 sacks a year ago without starting a single game.
Danielle Hunter has a chance to be very special. Will be interesting to see how he does now as a full-time starter. Very high ceiling. pic.twitter.com/XnXnQlwYpp
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) June 7, 2017
Hunter’s ability to get pressure on the quarterback is almost unprecedented for a player his age. Entering his third NFL season, Hunter won’t turn 23 years old until October.
Drafted in the third round out of LSU back in 2015, Hunter had six sacks as a rookie before really breaking out this past season. It’s going to be scary to see what he’s capable of doing with a heavier workload, as he played in just over 57 percent of the Vikings’ defensive snaps a year ago.
Danielle Hunter is only 22 years old. pic.twitter.com/LmCQRr9D0Z
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) June 20, 2017
According to multiple reports coming out of Minneapolis, Hunter is expected to be a full-time starter this season. That means he should play between 75 and 80 percent of the snaps. Everson Griffen played over 85 percent of the snaps last year, so perhaps Hunter will see even more extensive work.
Danielle Hunter had the highest pass rushing productivity rating of any NFC North edge defender in 2016. pic.twitter.com/qUg73wyRET
— PFF (@PFF) June 19, 2017
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Physically, Hunter is as good as it gets already. He appears to be cut from stone and he’s only going to get stronger. The way he’s able to use his strength and speed to put pressure on opposing offenses isn’t based on physical traits alone, however. Hunter is gaining an understanding of how to win before the snap.
This is going to be an incredibly dangerous player this season, and I think there’s a decent chance he could lead the NFL in sacks. Playing opposite Everson Griffen with Linval Joseph in the middle of the line, Hunter is going to get a lot of favorable matchups off the edge.
Teams will quickly have to start circling him as a player to account for on every single snap. He’s got that kind of ability, and it won’t be long before we’re talking about him along with Von Miller and Khalil Mack as one of the top edge players in the game.