Jonathan Greenard
Getty
Jonathan Greenard of the Minnesota Vikings.
There could be a win-win trade opportunity brewing for both the Minnesota Vikings and the San Francisco 49ers.
The Vikings are currently dealing with salary cap issues and question marks at quarterback, while the 49ers could use some help on the defensive line. On March 3, NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that the Vikings were open to trading defensive end Jonathan Greenard.
“They would like to keep Greenard, but they also have salary cap issues they’re working through that have led to these trade conversations,” Schefter wrote on X.
What about a trade swap — with additional picks attached on both sides — that would send QB Mac Jones to Minnesota and Greenard to the Bay Area? Let’s discuss.
What Might a Mac Jones & Jonathan Greenard Trade Swap Look Like?
Jonathan Greenard, Vikings
GettyA trade swap sending Vikings edge rusher Jonathan Greenard to the 49ers for QB Mac Jones could be beneficial to both teams.
Jones, 27, recouped some trade value in 2025. The former first-round pick of the New England Patriots stepped in when Brock Purdy went down with a toe injury. In 11 games and eight starts, Jones completed 69.6% of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions, netting a 97.4 passer rating.
At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, Jones’ best season came as a rookie in 2021 with New England, when he threw for 3,801 yards and led the Patriots to the playoffs. Since then he has bounced around a bit, but his performance in San Francisco showed he can still run a structured offense effectively.
A realistic trade framework might look something like this: the Vikings would get Jones and a 2026 fourth-round pick, while the 49ers would get Greenard and a late-round pick, likely a sixth or seventh. With this deal, San Francisco would be taking on Greenard’s sizable contract for a proven edge, while Minnesota would get a quarterback coming off a promising season and draft compensation in return.
Why Both Teams Might Consider This Deal
The Vikings have made it clear they are going to add some competition for J.J. McCarthy, and Jones would be a great option. Head coach Kevin O’Connell did wonders with recent Super Bowl-winner Sam Darnold back in 2024, and multiple analysts think Jones could be the next Darnold.
Rich Eisen is one:
NFL on ESPN
“Mac Jones, in my estimation, is the most likely candidate to be the next Sam Darnold of anybody else.”
—@richeisen on Mac Jones’ potential after being under the Kyle Shanahan system 👀
(via @RichEisenShow)
SI’s Grant Cohn took it a step further, suggesting Jones is better than Darnold:
Grant Cohn
Mac Jones is better than Sam Darnold.
As for Greenard, he had 12.5 sacks in 2023 with the Houston Texans before signing a four-year, $76 million contract with Minnesota in 2024. In his first season with the Vikings, he recorded 12.0 sacks, 59 tackles and four forced fumbles, earning a Pro Bowl nod.
His production dipped in 2025 due to a season-ending shoulder injury (he played in 12 games, starting 10), and he finished with 3.0 sacks. He’s still only 28 years old, and he carries a cap hit of roughly $22 million in 2026.
Adding a pass rusher of Greenard’s ilk to pair with Nick Bosa would give the Niners quite the formidable duo.
From Minnesota’s perspective, this is a move would that would free up cap space while giving the team another option at quarterback and an extra draft pick. For San Francisco, it would mean absorbing a large contract but upgrading the pass rush with a player who has already produced double-digit sacks in the NFL.