The Jaguars would greatly benefit from signing Danielle Hunter, but they will have to outbid these three teams in free agency.
Josh Allen, an outside linebacker, was given a franchise tag by the Jacksonville Jaguars, ensuring he would stay put. In order to complete their rotation, they will now need to locate a third pass rusher. Although there will be many possibilities available on the open market, Danielle Hunter, a defensive end with the Minnesota Vikings, is perhaps the best of the lot.
Hunter, a third-round selection in 2015, was the focus of trade discussions over the offseason. He didn’t participate in team events with the hopes of receiving a contract modification. It was at that point that the Jaguars expressed interest in signing him. After a while, the former Tiger from LSU moved back to Minnesota and received a raise. Still, he was a target for Jacksonville until the trade deadline.
Hunter seemed to have piqued the Jaguars’ interest even in 2024. In free agency, they’ll have an opportunity to contend for him, and best of all, they won’t have to pay him anything in exchange for his services. However, they won’t be the only team pursuing him on the free agent market. He recorded a career-high 16.5 sacks in the previous season, and he will be in high demand now that Josh Allen and Brian Burns are no longer available.
Therefore, the Jags will need to outbid the next three suitors in order to get Hunter’s services.
3. The Chicago Bears
Both general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus may be in their prime, thus they will stop at nothing to maintain their positions till 2024. The fact that the Chicago Bears, who tagged cornerback Jaylon Johnson, have $56 million in cap space—the fifth-best in the league—helps their cause. They won’t cut any corners to ensure they have a chance to compete in the NFC North arms race.
They traded for Montez Sweat just a year ago, and they immediately extended his contract. They might then strengthen their defensive front by adding another pass rusher in free agency. Danielle Hunter is absolutely within their budget, and the chance to demoralize a division opponent might encourage them to sign him.
2. Denver Broncos
For a few reasons, the Denver Broncos might seem like an unusual team to pursue Danielle Hunter. The largest is that, should the Russell Wilson experiment be terminated, they will have to swallow a whopping $85 million in dead money. However, you have to give them credit. When it failed, coach Sean Payton made the decision to cut losses rather than risking further money on the error.
The Broncos will attempt to reassemble a roster that requires upgrades now that Wilson is gone. What’s wrong? They lost out on several top draft picks when they traded for Payton and Russ, so they’ll need to get inventive to add a few players in free agency. Their ability to swiftly acquire up to $50 million in space—assuming a few restructurings and the trade of Jerry Jeudy—works to their advantage.
Denver can engage in free agency after they clear room. Their front four is another area general manager George Paton needs to focus on, in addition to the quarterback situation. Even if Nick Bonnito recovers fully from his knee injury sustained at the end of the 2023 campaign, the Jaguars will still need reinforcements, and Danielle Hunter might be the best option available.
Last season, the Broncos defense had a terrible start to the season, but after they found their rhythm, they were able to stay in games and even make a run at a postseason berth. They would undoubtedly have a stronger fighting chance in 2024 if Hunter was included.
1. New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are a squad that is in desperate need of playmakers. They will need to open their wallets and purchase a few key players in free agency if they expect head coach Jared Mayo to succeed immediately away. Additionally, they must prevent their own players from quitting. Mayo gains some building pieces from Josh Uche and Michael Onwenu, and the Pats would be better suited holding onto them than adding two new needs.
Speaking of Uche, he had a somewhat lackluster season, recording just three sacks in the year following his 11.5-sack total the previous year. Both Uche’s injury and bookend pass rusher Matt Judon’s ripped bicep caused him to lose production.
Though New England could wish to pass up the opportunity to complete their rotation, Judon should return in 2024. They might even revamp their defensive line throughout the offseason; the more players they can acquire, the better. Additionally in need of improvement is Davon Godchaux and Keion White’s inside pass rush, as they didn’t perform well inside previous season.
With $78 million in cap space, the Patriots rank third in the league and should have no problem giving Danielle Hunter a top-market deal while still having plenty of money left over. They only managed four victories in the previous season, but they were 15th in the league in terms of points allowed. Getting Hunter could enable them to become one of the top ten teams in 2024.
