The foundation of the San Francisco 49ers’ defense lies in their elite DL play, and they may enhance it by acquiring a star from the Minnesota Vikings. Despite having a talented defensive line, there are gaps that need filling.
The 49ers must find a way to replace the departing Chase Young and Randy Gregory, who were brought in as pass-rushing reinforcements. Pro Football Network’s John Fields suggests that San Francisco could pursue Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter as a potential solution.
Fields wrote on February 25 that “adding a second bona fide edge rusher could certainly help in that regard, and Hunter has certainly proven capable of playing to that level across his eight-year career. Although some regression back to the mean is likely for Hunter, who is not getting any younger at 29 years old, adding his dependable production could be attractive to the 49ers if they look to move on from the up-and-down Young.”
Hunter appears to be a significant improvement on paper, and despite Fields’ reservations, his potential for both a high floor and ceiling make him a safe bet. By 2023, Hunter had already established himself as a top-notch edge rusher, having surpassed 10 sacks in five separate seasons as a former LSU Tiger. However, 2023 was a new level for him. Pro Football Reference reports that Hunter amassed 16.5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles in 17 starts. Additionally, he led the NFL with 23 tackles for loss and contributed 2 passes defended.
Throughout his career, Hunter has been considered by many to be overlooked for a second-team All-Pro spot, with only one such recognition in 2019. However, any team interested in acquiring Hunter during the offseason may have reservations about his injury history. Although he played in every game during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, he sat out the entirety of the 2020 season due to a neck injury and missed 10 games in 2021 due to a torn pectoral muscle.
