Analysts Predict A Spot Where Free Agent Kareem Hunt Would Most Likely Land

Kareem Hunt is still only 27 years old, so he probably still has it in him to contribute to any number of NFL clubs in 2023. What is the most recent word in the league about probable destinations for the former top running back? Will the Vikings bring him home again? Or perhaps Hunt will find another suitor?

Analysts Predict A Spot Where Free Agent Kareem Hunt Would Most Likely Land

Hunt’s strongest suit is his adaptability. He is a skilled pass catcher who can also play the bell cow position. Hunt typically has one of the top broken-tackle rates in the league.

He plays “behind” one of the best running backs of this generation, which has everything to do with the fact that he hasn’t been a weekly starter since 2018. In any of the previous four seasons, Hunt would have pushed for a starting position on the majority of other teams.

By letting Cook go, Minnesota could save $9 million, or by dealing him, they could get $11 million and at least one asset. Whatever the total amount of the cap relief is, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is unlikely to spend a significant portion of it on another running back to team with Alexander Mattison, who is expected to start in 2023.

However it is possible to add another rusher of some kind on a budget, and the Vikings have at least one free agent candidate with a strong resume whom they might be able to sign.

“Given Hunt’s talent and history of early-career success, pushing his number low enough to get into Minnesota’s desired range could be tricky,” Dible wrote on June 6. “But aging players at a devalued position can often be convinced to take a one-year discount to join a situation that will allow them to showcase their skills, re-establish their value and potentially earn a shot at another sizable, long-term contract. This is the type of scenario in which the Vikings land a player like Hunt.”

In 49 regular season games during a four-year period in Cleveland, Hunt accumulated 1,874 running yards and 16 touchdowns while averaging 4.24 yards per carry. According to Pro Football Reference, he also caught 132 receptions for 973 yards and seven touchdowns while playing with the Browns.

In 2022, the running back finished the final two years of his $12 million deal with Cleveland. For a two-year contract, Spotrac estimates Hunt’s market worth to be $7 million yearly. This summer, Mattison agreed to a two-year deal with the Vikings worth a total of $7 million in guaranteed money.

 

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