Minnesota Vikings Caught Stealing in the Draft with Danielle Hunter

By Ben Ryan | May 1, 2015

88 players have been picked up to this moment. 88 dreams have come true. 88 smiles have shined the world; while the rest have been patiently waiting their turn to pick up the phone and be delighted for the rest of their lives. Whether they’re in Chicago or spending this time at home with their families, being chosen to an NFL team is a moment these players will remember, forever.

Some say the third round isn’t as important as the first two. Well, the people that say it are sadly mistaken. There’s always great value and potential in every player, and the Minnesota Vikings have just given another player the biggest smile they’ve ever put on their face; they’ve given them a chance.

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For the third round and 80th overall selection in the draft, the Vikings selected Danielle Hunter from LSU.

The Vikings traded with the Kansas City Chiefs to drop back to 80, and the Detroit Lions to drop to 88, which gives the Vikings the No. 143 in the fifth round from the Lions and No. 193 in the sixth round.

With this pick, the Vikings add on another lovely defensive player to overall better their team. Hunter is a little different than the rest, though. With the amount of upside that he has, one more year in college and he could’ve been a first to mid second round selection.

Hunter has an unreal combination of athleticism and size; standing at 6’5″ and weighing in at 252 pounds, he’s a large gentleman. Also, his arms and hands are massive. 34 and a quarter inch arms with 10 and a half inch hands. He uses his size very well to get around blockers when he’s hunting down the ball carrier or quarterback. Those large beefy hands that he has will grab blockers and push them with ease. The strength that he contains is unfathomable.

Yes, his size is fascinating, but his athleticism is his best asset.

Hunter shined at the NFL combine. Running a 4.57 40-yard dash time, and putting the bench press up 25 times, he was standing out from the rest. His 40-yard dash time was the best for his position which made him stand out even more.

At LSU, in three years Hunter totaled for 142 tackles and 4.5 sacks, which is a low for his position, almost a red flag to an extent. This is caused from his lack of technique. He’s a bit sloppy, yes he’s strong but strength can only take you so far. If Hunter really wants to succeed and be a force in the NFL, he has to improve his technique. Hunter tries banking on his speed and strength rather than form.

Oct 5, 2013; Starkville, MS, USA; LSU Tigers defensive end Danielle Hunter (94) tackles Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) during the game at Davis Wade Stadium. LSU Tigers defeated the Mississippi State Bulldogs 59-26. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

He’s repetitive with his moves to get around, and doesn’t get to the quarterback fast enough. Coach Mike Zimmer will certainly change that in Hunter’s years in purple and gold because as everyone knows, Zimmer loves his defense.

Hunter is your stereotypical boom or bust player. He has all the strengths and athleticism in the world, and his ceiling is as high as that will take him. If he can learn to clean up his technique and be more consistent on the field, he’s going to have a very nice career.

The Vikings made a very smart move drafting Hunter in the third round, he show’s an incredible amount of potential and could be an everyday starter by his second year in the league.

That’s if he’s not already in his rookie season. If things end up successful for Hunter, the Vikings could have very well selected a player who will be considered a definite steal.

Next: Eric Kendricks Hitting Vikings the Right Way

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