Vikings’ Pro Bowl DL available in trade?

The Minnesota Vikings are looking to shed some money to get under the salary cap, and that is making some teams think one of their better players will be available in a trade.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on Saturday that teams believe the Vikings may make Danielle Hunter available in a trade due to their cap circumstance.

Multiple teams have inquired about the trade availability of Pro Bowl DE Danielle Hunter, per sources. While the Vikings aren't believed to be actively shopping Hunter, multiple execs believe he's available due to cap issues ($15.7M over), Hunter's $18M roster bonus due March 20

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 12, 2022

The Vikings are currently projected at around $15 million over the cap. Kirk Cousins takes up the biggest portion of the cap of any Vikings player with a $45 million cap figure. But Hunter is right behind him.

Hunter has a big $26.1 million cap hit thanks largely to his $18.5 million roster bonus. He only played in eight games last season due to a pec injury, and he missed all of the 2020 season with a herniated disc. But Hunter is still a difference maker. The 27-year-old had 14.5 sacks in both 2018 and 2019. He had six sacks in seven games last season before getting hurt.

Teams with cap space available and that are looking to improve could call the Vikings about prying Hunter loose.