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The Minnesota Vikings have agreed to terms on a five-year contract extension with Danielle Hunter Thomas Morstead Jersey , making him one of the top 10 highest-paid defensive ends in the NFL while securing another core player before he could reach free agency.

The deal, which was done on Wednesday, is worth up to $72 million, according to a person with knowledge of the contract who spoke on condition of anonymity because the terms weren't disclosed by the team.

The deal includes $40 million in guaranteed money, with a $15 million signing bonus. The annual average worth is more than $14 million, on par with fellow Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen.

"I had to get this out of the way," Hunter said, acknowledging relief to have signed before training camp. "I didn't want to be bothered by anything."

Hunter has 25陆 sacks, three forced fumbles and two recovered fumbles in three seasons Noah Spence Jersey , after being drafted in the third round in 2015 out of LSU. Still only 23 years old, Hunter was a top priority to retain at a premium position. Griffen is 30, and primary backup Brian Robison is 35.

"Just looking forward to getting him locked in and what he's going to continue to bring not only to this defense and this football team, but also the type of character that he brings," general manager Rick Spielman said.

Over those past three seasons, Hunter and Griffen have combined for 57 sacks, the second most by a pair of teammates in the league behind Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap of the Cincinnati Bengals (58).

The pass rush and run defense provided by these bookends has been a significant part of coach Mike Zimmer's unit that gave up the fewest points and yards in the NFL last season.

"We build a bond together on defense," Hunter said. "We go out there, we know we're brothers. We fight together. We do our assignments. On and off the field we're really Derrick Shelby Jersey , really close.

Hunter was third in the NFL with 12陆 sacks in 2016, the most by a defensive end. Born in Jamaica and raised just outside of Houston, the 6-foot-5, 252-pound Hunter was a classic late bloomer the Vikings targeted with confidence he'd continue to develop with the right coaching to complement his measurable physical skills. Spielman and his scouts have been proven right with that pick.

"I kind of came in with the mindset of just playing football. I had a whole bunch of people in front of me, older guys that were able to show me the way, good coaches and a good coaching staff," Hunter said. "The only thing I could do is just come in here and focus and play football."

The Vikings extended middle linebacker Eric Kendricks earlier this offseason. Outside linebacker Anthony Barr and wide receiver Stefon Diggs are their other two standouts on expiring contracts, with space under the salary cap dwindling. Signing both of them to new long-term deals might not be possible.

They're plenty happy to at least have Hunter around well into the next decade, though. According to statistics compiled by Vikings coaches Corey Liuget Jersey , Hunter also has 125 quarterback hurries and 147 total tackles. He has never missed an NFL game to injury, with his only two absences coming in 2015 when he was on the inactive list in the first month of his rookie year.

"It's all about keep continuing to improve my game. I've got to go out there and do what the coaches tell me to do. Now that I have this I can't relax," Hunter said. "I have to keep pounding and grinding."

Almost two years after Teddy Bridgewater blew out his knee at Vikings practice, his surgeon is thrilled by his recovery.

Dr. Dan Cooper, who operated on Bridgewater’s knee in September of 2016, says Bridgewater has shown amazing resolve to get himself back on the field and play well this preseason for the Jets.

“It’s certainly the worst knee dislocation in sports I’ve ever seen without having a nerve or vessel injury,” Cooper told ESPN. “It’s an injury that about 20-25 percent of NFL players are able to come back from. . . . It’s a horrific injury. You’ve torn every single thing in your knee and it’s hanging on by one ligament on one side like a hinge.”

Cooper said that Bridgewater’s ACL was torn, which is a bad enough injury in itself, but there was far more damage than he usually sees when he does ACL repairs.

“And then everything on the lateral side of his knee was reconstructed Junior Seau Jersey , about five ligaments over there,” he said. “We repaired them, then took one of his own hamstring tendons and transplanted it to the lateral side of his knee.”

Now Bridgewater looks like he’s ready to go again. Although the Jets, who drafted Sam Darnold third overall, don’t have him in their long-term plans, he has done enough that he should draw interest from other teams. He has a good chance of playing meaningful snaps in the NFL this season, something many thought he would not be able to do two years ago.
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