Jasen Vinlove USA TODAY Sports
After a couple trades by general manager Rick Spielman that added two Day 3 picks, the Minnesota Vikings finally took their turn in the third round at No. 88 overall. For the third time in three picks so far in this year’s draft, the Vikings added a piece to their defense by taking LSU defensive end Danielle Hunter.
Hunter declared for the draft a year early, apparently against the advise of the NFL Draft Advisory Board. But a combine performance that included a 4.57 40-yard dash, a 36.5″ vertical jump and a 10’10” broad jump elevated his stock despite a lack of notable pass rush production in college.
The Vikings should be seeking an eventual replacement for defensive end Brian Robison, who turned 32 this week and is coming off his worst season since becoming a full-time starter in 2011. Hunter looks like a solid fit in that regard, with upside that appears to exceed that of 2014 third-round pick Scott Crichton. It’s quite possible Hunter and Crichton will be competing for one roster spot during training camp and the preseason.
If there’s a coach in the league that can help Hunter turn his physical tools into on-field production and consistency, it may be Vikings’ head coach Mike Zimmer. So if Hunter is able to respond to tough coaching and develop an all-around skill set, he could become no less than a key piece of Minnesota’s defensive line rotation in short order. Among edge rushers in this year’s draft class, Hunter tied for second in Pro Football Focus’ “Run Stop Percentage” (12.3), so if he can add some bulk (252 lbs.) he could be even better in that area.
Hunter is a bit of a boom-or-bust pick for the Vikings, but the downside risk is virtually eliminated by only having used a fairly late third-round pick on him. It’s worth noting that Crichton was the 72nd overall pick last year, and he could be among the first cuts in training camp this summer if he doesn’t show more than he did as a rookie. So Hunter at least has enough upside to give himself a better chance to stick, and I doubt that a year from now we’ll be questioning his ability to keep a roster spot for the Vikings.
Brad Berreman is a Senior Writer at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter.
