Jonathan Greenard, Vikings
Getty
Pass-rusher Jonathan Greenard of the Minnesota Vikings.
The Minnesota Vikings are officially shopping defensive end Jonathan Greenard, and apparently are prepared for a buyer’s market.
A solid crop of pass-rushers are becoming free agents a little more than one week from now at the start of the new league year on March 11. The position is also strong at the top of the NFL draft, with ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. predicting as many as seven edge-rushers coming off the board in Round 1 alone in his most recent mock draft.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Tuesday, March 2 that the Vikings are open to trading Greenard, who wants a new deal commensurate with his contributions, while Schefter’s colleague Jeremy Fowler later noted Minnesota’s asking price for the soon-to-be 29-year-old edge defender.
“Vikings are now open to trading Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, per sources,” Schefter posted to X. “They would like to keep Greenard, but they also have salary cap issues they’re working through that have led to these trade conversations.”
“Teams I’ve talked to believe Minnesota wants a Day 2 pick for Greenard,” Fowler captioned a repost of Schefter’s news on X.
A Day 2 pick means that the Vikings are hunting either a second-rounder or a third-round selection in return for Greenard, along with the immediate salary cap relief that moving him will provide.
Jonathan Greenard Well Above-Average NFL Edge-Rusher When Healthy Over Past 3 Seasons
Jonathan Greenard Minnesota Vikings
GettyDefensive end Jonathan Greenard of the Minnesota Vikings.
Minnesota is looking at a $46.5 million salary cap deficit as of Tuesday, and trading Greenard will clear $12.25 million. Minnesota could save an extra $6.5 million-plus by designating him a post-June 1 trade, but that wouldn’t help them add any talent once free agency begins in mid-March.
Greenard has two seasons remaining on his four-year, $76 million contract. He earned Pro-Bowl honors in 2024, his first campaign in Minnesota, on the strength of 18 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. However, Greenard missed five games last season due to injury and his production fell off significantly.
The outside linebacker has tallied 38 sacks over his six-year NFL career, meeting or topping 12 sacks total in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024. He has also recorded 60 tackles for loss during his time in the league.
A second-round pick is a reasonable price for a player of Greenard’s caliber given his age and downturn in production last year due to shoulder surgery. However, a third-round pick could be considered low if teams expect a full recovery, which could render Greenard a significant bargain on the trade market.
There are several teams looking for an edge-rusher that could end up suitors for Greenard. Among them are the Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals.
Vikings Facing Several Difficult Cuts to Get Salary Cap Compliant
Aaron Jones
GettyMinnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones.
Meanwhile, the Vikings will need to make other major financial decisions likely to separate Minnesota from quality players. The franchise has already announced its intentions to cut ties with running back Aaron Jones and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, which will free up just shy of $19 million.
Those moves, plus a Greenard trade, should knock off more than $31 million in cap hits and put the Vikings around $15.5 million in the red.
Minnesota may also cut tight end TJ Hockenson if the team can’t restructure his deal. Parting with Hockenson would trim $9 million off the cap and bring Minnesota potentially to within one move of getting into the black.
That, however, is a minimal accomplishment, as the Vikings will still need space to sign their draft picks and add any talent they like in free agency or via a trade.