NEWSLETTER
Free agency names are flying here there and everywhere. And while the Chicago Bears got on the board by agreeing to terms with running back D’Andre Swift, their division rival Minnesota Vikings are making a splash of their own with defensive end Jonathan Greenard.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport has the first scoop:
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Adam Schefter chimes in with the contract details. Schefty has it as a four-year deal worth $76 million for Greenard and the Vikings. The deal includes $42 million in guarantees. The $76 million total value puts Greenard in a tier with Von Miller ($76.355M) and just outside the top 10 highest-paid edge rushers, per OverTheCap.com’s calculation. And a $19 million AAV keeps him just outside of the $20 million per year club. That’s still good money.
Should this move become officially official, it will spell the end of Danielle Hunter’s time with the Vikings. And that has me thinking…
With Jonathan Greenard off the board, are the Bears and Danielle Hunter a free-agency fit?
There was a thought the Bears could be in the market to reel in Jonathan Greenard in free agency. But with Greenard going to the Vikings, it leaves the Bears in a position to pivot to Danielle Hunter — whose spot Greenard is taking on the Vikings.
Hunter popped up as a Bears trade target over the summer, but nothing came of it because Minnesota re-worked his deal. That led Chicago to turn its attention elsewhere in an offseason in which they signed Yannick Ngakoue. But in February, Hunter’s name came up in connection with the Bears via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler:
“The sense I get here in Vegas is that Danielle Hunter will be hard for the Vikings to keep. He will have a very strong market, he turned 29 in October, and several teams had interest at the trade deadline. Chicago could look to add a pass-rusher to complement Montez Sweat in free agency and is very high on Hunter.”
I imagine Hunter would want to beat Greenard’s contract. And while I’m not sure if he can, I can see that possibility playing out. Wouldn’t it be something to see it play out in Chicago? Hunter had 16.5 sacks, 23 tackles-for-loss, and 22 quarterback hits. The four-time Pro Bowler has been a menace for the Bears to block over the years. Maybe this is one of those “if you can’t beat him, pay him” situations for Chicago’s front office.
