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The Vikings entered the season with a quagmire surrounding star pass rusher Danielle Hunter. And as we get closer to the Oct. 31 trade deadline, Hunter may be in the news again.
Sources indicate that teams have been inquiring about a potential trade for Hunter from the Vikings. As the team’s leader in sacks, he is likely to be one of the top players that could be moved at the deadline. It would be logical for Minnesota to entertain these calls.
Hunter has a year left on his contract, and with the team’s record at 2-4, great players on expiring deals draw interest. A playoff-ready team with a need on the edge could step in.
Hunter has previously been the subject of trade rumors; indeed, several teams expressed interest in him before the season started. However, he ultimately re-signed with Minnesota. Since then, he has led the NFL with eight sacks.
Last year, the Bears traded an elite defender at the deadline, dealing Roquan Smith to the Ravens. This year, under the right circumstances, that could be Hunter.
He isn’t the only prominent figure who could potentially relocate.
Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy, one of the best players on a Denver team with just one win, addressed this week the possibility of a trade. With a down year stat-wise on a struggling team, Jeudy admitted frustration.
Jeudy voiced his frustrations to reporters, saying, “Experiencing loss is always aggravating. No one desires to be on the losing side, you understand?” He added, “There’s nothing worse than losing… I’m aware of my abilities and what I can achieve. Thus, whether I’m traded or not doesn’t make a difference because, ultimately, I will still be the same person.”
The Broncos aren’t planning a fire sale, and absent a deal they couldn’t turn down, a mass of trades is considered unlikely. Coach Sean Payton doesn’t appear inclined to trade talented players away, especially if they could have future contributions beyond 2023. But Jeudy was the subject of trade discussions this offseason, with teams calling before the season and over the last few weeks. If frustrations and losses continue to mount, those calls will only increase, creating an interesting decision for Denver.
One player who won’t be traded is Saquon Barkley, sources tell NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo. The Giants have no plans to engage in any trade conversations centered around their franchise back. In a tough season, dealing players on expiring deals (Parris Campbell would be one) would make sense. But it doesn’t appear Barkley is going anywhere.
The same goes for the Panthers, who likely won’t trade any key building blocks for their future, but do appear open to dealing players such as WR Terrace Marshall and CB Donte Jackson and may have traded Jeremy Chinn before he got injured.
