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Re: Hunter to skip mandatory minicamp
Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 3:32 pm
by VikingsVictorious
I've been sifting through the reports and the contract language and this is my final take barring any new developments.
1: Hunter is not getting one more penny on his deal this year.
2: If the Vikings deem Hunter worthy of $20 million for 2022 they keep him. That would be a huge increase from the 12 Million he had remaining before the restructure. If they don't they cut him.
3: Hunter's new deal either expires after 2021 if not looking good or 2022 if looking good. That's one or two years less than previously.
If the Vikings want to keep him after next season we will have to make Hunter the best offer as he will be a free agent.
Re: Hunter to skip mandatory minicamp
Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 6:12 pm
by VikingLord
This is a pretty creative solution to the impasse with Hunter.
Basically, the Vikings moved money up in the deal and shortened the deal at the same time. This gives Hunter the extra money to play he wanted without increasing the overall cost to the Vikings, while at the same time giving the Vikings an easier out if Hunter isn't able to perform as well as he did before the injury. If he does perform as well, he'll get paid like a top dollar DE next season and can either extend again with the Vikings or explore free agency (provided the Vikings don't franchise him).
Win-win if you ask me, plus the Vikings still have cap to further improve the DL which it appears they are actively trying to do by courting Richardson.
As a Vikings fan I never get my hopes up too high, but if Hunter comes back just as good as before and if the other guys they signed perform up to their potential on that defensive line, this is going to be a really good defense next year. It will be fun to watch.
Re: Hunter to skip mandatory minicamp
Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2021 5:55 am
by VikingTom
VikingTom wrote: ↑Sat Jun 12, 2021 11:38 am
It is no secret Hunter is on the list of contracts to be redone. I am sure he knows it. I suspect the two sides have had contact, but everyone is keeping discussion private. That generally bodes well, and gives reason to think they are not far apart.
From what I have read fining Hunter is optional for the team should he miss the mandatory mini camp. Kind of get the vibe the Vikings will not levy a fine. Which in my mind also supports the idea there is communication going on privately. Granted this is just speculation on my part, but I currently see nothing significant to worry about.
Guess I was on the right track. The two sides were clearly quietly working on a deal that suited both. Everyone is now happy. (Pats self on the back)
Re: Hunter to skip mandatory minicamp
Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2021 9:33 am
by StumpHunter
Hunter gets the security and raise he wanted and the Vikings didn't end up locked into a guy coming off a year ending injury for more seasons.
Re: Hunter to skip mandatory minicamp
Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2021 10:38 am
by Rhodes Closed
Hunter showed up to Mini-camp today. Go ahead and lock this topic up now that it's disproven.
Re: Hunter to skip mandatory minicamp
Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2021 2:22 pm
by S197
It's about as close to a win-win as you can get. I hope he's healthy. It does pose a problem for next year, as they'll have to make some very tough choices if they pay Hunter. Just off the top of my head, Harrison Smith, Brian O'Neill, Anthony Barr, Patrick Peterson, Xavier Woods, Mac Alexander, and Breeland are all free agents. Plus some smaller role players like Hercules. And they'll have to pay Cousins $45 million.
It will be interesting to see what they do with their remaining cap.
Re: Hunter to skip mandatory minicamp
Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2021 9:00 pm
by VikingsVictorious
Turns out Hunter's deal is more Vikings friendly than originally believed.
Hunter’s deal originally had three years remaining, and in the reworking Corry said the Vikings added two voidable years, but that they have added no new money. Most notably, the Vikings moved $7.25 million of salary from 2023 to 2022 and provided an $18 million roster bonus due on the fifth day of the new league year next March. Corry said the $18 million could end up being converted to a signing bonus and spread out over four years.
It’s likely the deal will be redone again in some manner by next March. But in the event there are issues with negotiations, Corry said there is language in the contract likely eliminating any possibility of a 2022 holdout by Hunter.
“If they’re at an impasse, they’re miles apart, they’ll convert the ($18 million) bonus and then go from there,” Corry said on the podcast. “And he’s now boxed himself in where he will lose this $18 million if he has a training-camp holdout. Smart move by the Vikings. … They didn’t give him a hammer of leverage where they’re basically at his mercy and have to do what he wants to get done, and otherwise they have to cut him.”
NFL Media previously reported some details on Hunter’s contract. Corry confirmed Hunter will have $5.6 million of his $12.15 million base salary in 2021 converted to a signing bonus. Because two voidable years were added to the deal, there will be $1.12 million counting on the salary cap in each of next five seasons through 2025, enabling Minnesota to save $4.48 million on the cap in 2021.
Corry said on the podcast that Hunter’s cap number will drop from $17.25 million to $12.77 million in 2021. He said the Vikings will pay his $100,000 workout bonus even though he missed OTAs and will guarantee a $500,000 roster bonus he has for games played. So that leaves him with all of his $12.75 million guaranteed in 2021 after previously having just $3.3 million guaranteed.
Although Hunter’s contract is likely to be reworked by next March, Corry said Hunter is now on the books for a $26.12 million cap number in 2022, but it could be dropped to $12.62 million if the $18 million roster bonus is turned into a signing bonus and spread out. In addition to the $18 million, Hunter also has on the books in 2022 a $1.4 million base salary, a $500,000 roster bonus for games played and a $100,000 workout bonus.
Corry said Hunter is now on the books in 2023 for a $4.9 million base salary, $500,000 games-played bonus and a $100,000 workout bonus for a total of $5.5 million. Corry said a total of $38.25 million had been left on Hunter’s contract before the reworking, and that hasn’t changed.
With the Vikings saving $4.48 million on the cap for 2021, they now have about $14.8 million of cap room. That number will drop to about $14.5 million when third-round draft picks Chazz Surratt, Wyatt Davis and Patrick Jones II are signed since they will displace other players on Minnesota’s top-51 salary list.
Re: Hunter to skip mandatory minicamp
Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 9:56 am
by StanM
We will probably never know what procedure doctors did on Hunter for the disc problem. I had a fusion which is what Manning had done. They go through the front of the neck alongside the wind pipe and I didn’t see the typical scar I was looking for in his interviews after he signed. The scar would have been subtle but I didn’t see one which leads me to think it was a less invasive procedure. They don’t go in from the back of the neck unless there are multiple problems but that would end any football career if it was that bad. I’m guessing some kind of micro surgery where they may have repaired the disc. Whatever it was I’m sure it was the latest surgical methods and more advanced than what I had done in 2001.
Re: Hunter to skip mandatory minicamp
Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 2:01 pm
by StumpHunter
It was a smart move by the Vikings to not just give in and give him a massive deal without knowing whether he is still the same guy he was in 2019. Hunter's contract isn't as team friendly as it once was, but it is more team friendly than if they had added 70 million more in guarantees over the next 5 seasons.
This is the 3rd player that they have removed years from the end of contracts in order to allow the player the ability to hit free agency sooner. Barr and Griffen got that stipulation added so they would take pay cuts, Hunter got it to avoid holding out. It is a unique approach to negotiating that I don't think most teams don't employ.
Re: Hunter to skip mandatory minicamp
Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 4:58 pm
by J. Kapp 11
VikingsVictorious wrote: ↑Wed Jun 23, 2021 9:00 pm
Turns out Hunter's deal is more Vikings friendly than originally believed.
Hunter’s deal originally had three years remaining, and in the reworking Corry said the Vikings added two voidable years, but that they have added no new money. Most notably, the Vikings moved $7.25 million of salary from 2023 to 2022 and provided an $18 million roster bonus due on the fifth day of the new league year next March. Corry said the $18 million could end up being converted to a signing bonus and spread out over four years.
It’s likely the deal will be redone again in some manner by next March. But in the event there are issues with negotiations, Corry said there is language in the contract likely eliminating any possibility of a 2022 holdout by Hunter.
“If they’re at an impasse, they’re miles apart, they’ll convert the ($18 million) bonus and then go from there,” Corry said on the podcast. “And he’s now boxed himself in where he will lose this $18 million if he has a training-camp holdout. Smart move by the Vikings. … They didn’t give him a hammer of leverage where they’re basically at his mercy and have to do what he wants to get done, and otherwise they have to cut him.”
NFL Media previously reported some details on Hunter’s contract. Corry confirmed Hunter will have $5.6 million of his $12.15 million base salary in 2021 converted to a signing bonus. Because two voidable years were added to the deal, there will be $1.12 million counting on the salary cap in each of next five seasons through 2025, enabling Minnesota to save $4.48 million on the cap in 2021.
Corry said on the podcast that Hunter’s cap number will drop from $17.25 million to $12.77 million in 2021. He said the Vikings will pay his $100,000 workout bonus even though he missed OTAs and will guarantee a $500,000 roster bonus he has for games played. So that leaves him with all of his $12.75 million guaranteed in 2021 after previously having just $3.3 million guaranteed.
Although Hunter’s contract is likely to be reworked by next March, Corry said Hunter is now on the books for a $26.12 million cap number in 2022, but it could be dropped to $12.62 million if the $18 million roster bonus is turned into a signing bonus and spread out. In addition to the $18 million, Hunter also has on the books in 2022 a $1.4 million base salary, a $500,000 roster bonus for games played and a $100,000 workout bonus.
Corry said Hunter is now on the books in 2023 for a $4.9 million base salary, $500,000 games-played bonus and a $100,000 workout bonus for a total of $5.5 million. Corry said a total of $38.25 million had been left on Hunter’s contract before the reworking, and that hasn’t changed.
With the Vikings saving $4.48 million on the cap for 2021, they now have about $14.8 million of cap room. That number will drop to about $14.5 million when third-round draft picks Chazz Surratt, Wyatt Davis and Patrick Jones II are signed since they will displace other players on Minnesota’s top-51 salary list.
Allow me to don my Captain Obvious hat here:
Rob Brzezinski is really good at this cap thing.