Cleveland Browns: Should Danielle Hunter be a trade target?

The Cleveland Browns have a hole at defensive end. With reports of Danielle Hunter wanting out of Minnesota, should the Browns make a call?

The Cleveland Browns have already made some nice moves this offseason, bolstering their weak secondary by signing Rams safety John Johnson III and Rams cornerback Troy Hill. Both these players formerly played under defensive coordinator Joe Woods, and look to help turn the Browns secondary from the woeful unit it was last year into a more formidable group.

The Browns also signed defensive end Takkarist McKinley to a one year deal, among a few other small moves. The McKinley signing is nice, with the hole at defensive end opposite Myles Garrett being vacant, but general manager Andrew Berry has made it known this offseason that intends to fill that void with a playmaker. While Takk Mckinkey is a nice acquisition and can be a nice rotational player, the Browns need to still search every avenue to find that “stud” edge rusher that Berry wants to have.

Enter Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter. With recent reports that Hunter is unhappy with the situation he’s currently in with the Minnesota Vikings, and he and his agent looking for ways out via trade, the Cleveland Browns should make a play for the proven edge rusher.

While the Vikings haven’t really shown interest in moving Hunter, where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire. The Browns could put together a nice package to acquire the 2015 third round pick that has done nothing but succeed since being drafted. Hunter has 29 sacks in 2018 and 2019, and while he missed the 2020 season following neck surgery, appears ready to return back to his old self and return to quarterback’s nightmares once more.

With the Cleveland Browns set to pick at the 26th overall pick in the first round, they could use that and perhaps another pick or a few players to acquire the services of Danielle Hunter.

Yes, the Browns could always look to draft a young edge rusher with that 26th pick, but the draft is never a guarantee. That first round draft pick could be a superstar, but it could just as likely be a bust.

Danielle Hunter has already proven himself to be a solid pass rusher in the NFL, and he’s only 26 years old. Putting him on one side of the defensive line with Myles Garrett on the other would ensure that the AFC North quarterbacks never sleep without one eye open for years to come.

Acquiring Danielle Hunter may cost the Cleveland Browns their first round pick in 2021. But if doing so lands you a proven player like Hunter, it’s an avenue worth exploring for Andrew Berry and the rest of the Cleveland Browns front office.