Jaguars finally Get Connected to Vikings after the deal was finally reached and the veteran willing to begin….
Is Danielle Hunter the one itch the Jacksonville Jaguars just can’t scratch? For the past year, the Jaguars have been linked to the Minnesota Vikings’ star pass-rusher on numerous occasions. And even in the wake of the 2023 season, the rumors aren’t going away. The Jaguars were linked to Hunter twice in 2023: during training camp and around the trade deadline, though the Jaguars ultimately stood pat and made a trade with the Vikings for guard Ezra Cleveland, with Jacksonville sending just a sixth-round pick in return.
Then during Super Bowl week in Las Vegas earlier this month, ESPN again mentioned the possibility of Hunter joining the Jaguars. And now it seems as if those around the Vikings are continuing to add stokes to the flame. The Athletic’s Alec Lewis mentioned Jacksonville as a potential fit for Hunter earlier this offseason. “And then there are the Jaguars, who have expressed interest in Hunter in the past year.
They do not have endless cap space for 2024, but they could creatively structure Hunter’s deal to fit their current timeline,” Lewis said. “Jacksonville’s fourth-year GM Trent Baalke will be charged with fielding a playoff team. If he doesn’t, he’d likely reach the end of the road, which is another reason to think the Jaguars will target Hunter.”
And then most recently, Paul Allen — the Vikings’ play-by-play voice and a radio personality for KFAN — has weighed in as well, stating he thinks Hunter will either be a Viking or a Jaguar.
On the surface, it doesn’t make much sense. The Jaguars are likely to retain Josh Allen on the franchise tag and hope for a larger deal down the road, while former No. 1 pick Travon Walker just notched 10 sacks and is clearly a favorite of general manager Trent Baalke. Still, the smoke around Hunter and the Jaguars has simply not gone away. Not then, not now, and maybe not for a few more weeks.
Most offseason moves for the Jacksonville Jaguars will be impacted by wide receiver Calvin Ridley. The Jaguars initially brought Ridley in during the 2022 season in an exchange with the Atlanta Falcons for two draft picks, a 2023 fifth-rounder, and a conditional 2024 pick ranging from the second to fourth round based on factors, including playing time.
Now that the 2023 season is over, the Jaguars owe the Falcons a third-rounder at the very least. If Doug Pederson and Co. opt to retain Ridley in 2024, they’ll ship away their second-round draft pick instead.
