The Minnesota Vikings are going to have a tough time extending edge-rusher Danielle Hunter, and he isn’t the only one.
Hunter presents the Vikings with problems because has been awesome in 2023, can’t be franchise-tagged next offseason and is probably going to be too expensive heading into his age-30 campaign for Minnesota to justify a new contract. DJ Wonnum, on the other hand, should be relatively affordable in free agency by comparison, but may not be worth the money he can get elsewhere across the league.
Alec Lewis of The Athletic on Monday, December 4, authored a mailbag in which he answered a question about the Vikings’ “appetite” to bring Wonnum back on an extension. Lewis’ answer was more or less that a deeper dive into the outside linebacker’s numbers doesn’t bode well for his return to Minneapolis.
Fifty-one defenders have rushed the passer on 300 snaps this season. Wonnum ranks 43rd out of those 51 in terms of pressure rate, according to Tru Media. His year-over-year pressure rate has also declined. In 2022, he pressured the quarterback on 9.9 percent of his snaps. This year, that number has dropped to 8.9 percent. His win rate is also down from 8.2 percent in 2022 to 6.7 percent.
So, why does it feel like he has leaped forward? It’s likely a byproduct of splash plays. Last year, Wonnum recorded four sacks. This season, he already has six.
As for an extension, the Vikings are well aware of their looming hole at edge rusher. Both Danielle Hunter and Wonnum are set to become free agents. The Vikings appreciate Wonnum’s commitment and work ethic, but his overall production still leaves a lot to be desired.
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