This offseason, the Detroit Lions need to strengthen their porous pass defense. However, David Kenyon of Bleacher Report believed the Lions would do it without having to leave the NFC North.
Kenyon predicted that defensive end Danielle Hunter of the Minnesota Vikings would sign a three-year, $67 million contract with the Lions. Hunter was promised $51 million according to Kenyon’s forecast.
Hunter recorded a career-high 16.5 sacks in 2023, and he has recorded 10 or more sacks in five of his eight seasons, according to Kenyon. There has never been a greater worth than his. Although Minnesota’s financial situation is unfortunate due to their actions, the NFC North opponent Detroit Lions has a significant need for a pass rusher.In his eight years in the NFL, Hunter has five times recorded double-digit sacks. He has only failed to reach 10 sacks in the previous five years once, in 2021, when he appeared in just 7 games.
James Houston, a second-year defender, was anticipated to be Hutchinson’s complementary edge rusher going into 2023. However, Houston’s ankle injury from Week 2 kept him out of action for most of the 2023 campaign.
Houston may still play a big role in Detroit’s future. However, it shouldn’t deter the Lions from going for Hunter, an already excellent edge rusher.
Hunter, who just had a career-high season in sacks, tackles, tackles for loss, and tackles, can elevate Detroit’s defensive line to the status of one of the best in the NFL.
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On paper, Hunter is a fantastic pickup for the Lions. Whether general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell think he fits in with the team’s culture is the question.
Another query may be about age. Hunter may never again achieve his 2023 numbers; he turns 30 in October. Despite being a Super Bowl candidate going into 2024, Holmes made it obvious in his playoff news conference that the club isn’t seeking temporary fixes.
On February 5, Holmes told reporters, “Every move Dan and I make has been made to sustain what we are building.” “Every action we take—and I mean every action we do not take—is intended to support the progress we have been making.
