The 2015 NFL Draft was one of the best in Minnesota Vikings history. Perhaps no player paid off more for them than third-round pick Danielle Hunter, who was selected 88th overall.
Despite standing 6-foot-6, 240 pounds, Hunter had marginal production in college. He only generated 4.5 sacks in three seasons at LSU, prompting some to wonder if he was worth the Vikings’ selection. Hunter proved the Vikings right, notching 87.5 sacks in nine seasons and earning four Pro Bowl bids. He was the longest-tenured Viking of the historic draft.
Of course, had everyone known what they know now, the Vikings wouldn’t have ever gotten their hands on Hunter. In their 2015 NFL re-draft, PFF had Hunter going third overall in that draft, being picked by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Jaguars needed an edge rusher from this class and chose Dante Fowler Jr. out of Florida. In hindsight, the better pick would have been Danielle Hunter, who, more than a decade later, is still producing at a high level. Hunter has earned pass-rush grades above 70.0 in each of the past six seasons, including three above 80.0. He’s also recorded more than 10.5 sacks in every season in which he played more than 10 games.
Hunter left Minnesota in 2024, signing with the Houston Texans. However, he continued to terrorize quarterbacks, racking up 12 sacks and earning his fifth Pro Bowl selection. Not bad for the guy who couldn’t get to the quarterback in college.