Jonathan Greenard
Getty
The Vikings are listening to trade offers for Jonathan Greenard
Not many other teams have the luxury that the Los Angeles Chargers have entering the 2026 NFL season: a notable salary cap. This gives the team the advantage of acquiring quality players without taking too much of a hit.
The Minnesota Vikings are one of the teams that have a negative cap space and are now listening to offers for Pro Bowl EDGE rusher Jonathan Greenard, who will have a $22.15 million cap hit next season.
CBS Sports Bryan DeArdo names the Bolts as one of five landing spots for the EDGE rusher as the Vikings look to clear cap space.
“While they were one of the league’s better pass-rushing units in 2025, the Chargers may lose former Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack, fellow outside linebacker Odafe Oweh and starting defensive hand Da’Shawn Hand in free agency,” DeArdo wrote. “In Greenard, the Chargers would be getting a positional replacement for Hand who can replicate the production that Mack had in terms of getting to the quarterback.”
Greenard had a lackluster 2025 season, recording 3 sacks in 12 games for the Vikings, but he has shown what he can produce in a good season. In three of his six career seasons, the EDGE rusher recorded 8 or more sacks.
LA has around $84 million in cap space and will still have plenty more to use in the upcoming free agency if they were to acquire Jonathan Greenard.
Chargers May Move On From EDGE Rusher
Los Angeles Chargers OLB Odafe Oweh
Getty Odafe Oweh #98 of the Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers acquired Odafe Oweh in a trade with the Baltimore Ravens and it proved to be a good deal for LA.
Oweh played five games for the Ravens last season, not registering a sack. In his time with the Bolts, Oweh logged 7.5 sacks in his 12 games and recorded 3 sacks in the AFC wildcard game against the New England Patriots.
The player was a hot name that was predicted to get the franchise tag, but wasn’t. If the EDGE rusher had been given the franchise tag, he would have been given a deal around $25.8 million per year.
This is a small $3 million difference compared to Jonathan Greenard’s contract, but it would be a cheaper option if they were to trade for the Vikings’ pass rusher and allow the Chargers to spend more in the upcoming free agency.
Projections predict that a Day 2 pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft would be needed to acquire the pass rusher.
Bringing Back All-Pro Pass Rusher
Khalil Mack, Chargers
GettyPass-rusher Khalil Mack of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Khalil Mack announced that he will return for another season of professional football at the age of 35.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the defender is listening to all options, which may close his door to return to Los Angeles.
The EDGE rusher was also considering retirement after the 2024 season before returning on a one-year, $18 million deal, fully guaranteed.
While Mack is still a threat to opposing offensive linemen, he is likely to return to his three-time All-Pro status.
Adding Jonathan Greenard will give the Los Angeles Chargers a younger option and a proven player who could return to his 10+ sack season.