3 teams the Jacksonville Jaguars must outbid for Danielle Hunter in free agency
• Signing Danielle Hunter would be huge for the Jaguars but they'll need to outbid these 3 teams in free agency.
The Jacksonville Jaguars ensured outside linebacker Josh Allen won't go anywhere when they placed the franchise tag on him. Now, they'll need to find a third pass rusher to round out their rotation. There will be ample options in the open market but the best of the bunch will probably be Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter.
A third-round pick in 2015, Hunter was the subject of trade talks last offseason. He missed team activities in hopes he would get a contract adjustment. At was during that time that the Jags showed interested in acquiring him. The former LSU Tiger eventually returned to Minnesota and got a raise. However, he remained on Jacksonville's radar up until the trade deadline.
It seems like the Jaguars' interested in Hunter has carried over into 2024. They'll have a chance to make a run for him in free agency, and the best part is that they don't have to give away any kind of compensations for his services. Having said that, they won't be the only team who'll go after him in the open market. He posted a career best 16.5 sacks last year, and given that Josh Allen and Brian Burns are off the market, he'll be on demand.
So if the Jags really want to lock up Hunter, they'll need to make a better offer than the next three suitors.
3. Chicago Bears
Head coach Matt Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles could be in the hot season, so they'll do anything they can to keep their respective jobs beyond 2024. Helping their cause is that the Chicago Bears have $56 million in space (fifth-best in the league) after tagging cornerback Jaylon Johnson. They'll surely spare no expense to make sure they have a shot at keeping up in the NFC North armsrace.
Just last year, they traded for Montez Sweat and promptly gave him an extension. They could next add another pass rusher in free agency to fortify their defensive front They can most definitely afford Danielle Hunter, and the prospect of weakening a division foe could incentivize them to sign him.