The Jacksonville Jaguars' pass rush could use a boost ahead of the 2023 season. Although outside linebackers Josh Allen and Travon Walker are expected to improve, the Jags could use a veteran to round out their rotation.
Not long ago, head coach Doug Pederson didn't rule out the potential pursuit of a veteran down the road but they'd rather see what they've got in their young players before they consider getting outside help.
If the Jaguars change their mind, there are still some options available on the open market. Also, they could get on the phone with the Minnesota Vikings and inquire about the potential availability of Danielle Hunter. A third-round pick in the 2015 draft, Hunter has consistently shown a knack for rushing the passer, registering 71 sacks and seven forced fumbles over the last seven seasons.
Hunter is set to make $5.5 million in 2023 and in his search for a pay bump, he's missed the voluntary portion of offseason workouts. In the meantime, a market for the three-time Pro Bowl nod has reportedly materialized and the Vikes have been entertaining offers. They already traded Za'Darius Smith earlier this year and if they want to move Hunter before the start of the 2023 season, the Jags could swoop in and try to land him. Here are three proposals to make it happen.
3. The Jaguars give the Vikings a 3rd-round pick in exchange for Danielle Hunter
The Vikings are cleaning house and they'll probably try to clear as much cap space as possible and hoard as many draft picks as they can. Teams know that they want to unload Danielle Hunter, so they might not have much leverage in trade talks. Although the Jags are trying to save up money to pay their own players next season, they could bring in the former LSU Tiger on a one-year rental and give him a raise with the chance to hit the open market in 2023.
While the Jaguars could end up parting ways with a second-round pick if they re-sign wide receiver Calvin Ridley next offseason, parting ways with a third-round selection and giving Hunter a salary akin to the one Leonard Floyd or Frank Clark recently got might not be a steep price to pay if they can upgrade their pass rush rotation.
2. The Jaguars and the Vikings swap K'Lavon Chaisson for Danielle Hunter
As noted before, Minnesota already traded Za'Darius Smith to the Cleveland Browns earlier this year, and if they also part ways with Danielle Hunter, their pass rush will experience a huge dropoff in 2023. To lessen the impact of Hunter's potential departure, the Vikings could bring in another edge defender to take his place. Enter four-year outside linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson.
Jaguars defensive line coach Brentson Bucker recently spoke highly of Chaisson but the truth is that the 20th overall pick is running out of chances to make an impact in Jacksonville. Chaisson has tallied a paltry three sacks over the last three years and his playing time has progressively decreased. The fact that he missed a good chunk of the 2022 season with a meniscus injury didn't help matters and if he doesn't show out in training camp, he could be on his way out.
The Jags declined to pick up Chaisson's fifth-year option on his rookie deal and if they decide that he's not part of their long-term future, they might as well try to get something instead of outright releasing him.
The Vikings already tried to acquire Chaisson in 2021. Granted, there was a different regime in place but general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah would be getting a pass rusher that could benefit from a change of scenery on a relatively cheap deal.
To get a deal done, the Jags could throw in a fifth-round pick in exchange for a seventh-rounder. All things considered, this would be a win-win situation for both Jacksonville and the Vikings.
1. The Jaguars get Danielle Hunter in exchange for RB D'Ernest Johnson
This trade might seem odd and even lopsided at first because the Jags just signed running back D'Ernest Johnson in free agency. However, Minnesota could be looking to add depth to the position after cutting ties with Dalvin Cook.
It looks like the Vikes are high on Alexander Mattison, who's now set to be RB1 next season, but they will probably want to add insurance in case he either gets hurt or underperform in 2023. Johnson would be an intriguing addition to their backfield rotation.
The former South Florida Bull went undrafted in 2018 and had to spend time in the American Alliance of Football before signing with the Cleveland Browns in 2019. Johnson has only gotten 738 carries over the last four years, which means that he doesn't have much tread on the tires. Moreover, he was pretty effective when he toted the rock, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. The fact that he's set to make $1.092 million in 2023 could incentivize Minnesota to get a deal done.
While the Jaguars' brass would surely love Johnson to make a push for the RB2 spot on the depth chart, they can afford to move on from him after drafting Tank Bigsby and bringing back JaMycal Hasty on a two-year deal. And on the off chance Jacksonville needs to add depth to their rotation before the 2023 season begins, they could work the waiver wire. That's how they found Hasty last year.
The bottom line is that there are different ways the Jags could land Hunter. Even though a trade seems unlikely, they have the resources to pull it off in case they change their mind.