Jonathan Greenard, Minnesota Vikings
Getty
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
On March 3, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported, citing sources, that the Minnesota Vikings might explore trading outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard due to a salary cap shortfall affecting multiple roster decisions.
The 28-year-old remains one of the team’s key defensive players and has two seasons left on the four-year contract he signed in 2024. With the NFL Draft right around the corner next month, the Vikings could receive an offer from any team that missed out on upgrading their pass rush in free agency.
Although Minnesota has salary cap relief as they are roughly $9.1 million under,per Over the Cap, moving on from Greenard could help the team even further. On March 13, NFL insider Jordan Schultz offered the latest regarding the Vikings’ pass rusher.
“[The Vikings are] trying to trade him,”Schultz said during an appearance on 105.3 The FAN. “They’ve got multiple suitors, but the issue with him is he’s going to want a new deal. Anytime you have a guy that you’re trading for, you have to give up draft capital. That’s one part.
“But it becomes a lot more complicated when that player is going to want a new contract. He’s got a lot of stuff to him. He’s a very good player, and I think has a lot of really good football left.”
Should the Cowboys Pursue the Vikings Pass Rusher
Greenard has recorded 60 solo tackles, 37 assisted tackles, and 15 sacks over 29 games with the Vikings since joining the team in 2024,per StatMuse. Moreover, Schultz notes that the Dallas Cowboys should considera move for Greenard.
“To me, that’s the type of player that Dallas should go after,” Schultz added. “I still think they need more juice coming off the edge. He can rush, he’s a really good tackler. I would be surprised if he wasn’t moved, but I also know that you’re going to have to pay him a big salary on a multi‑year deal, and that’s probably why it hasn’t happened just yet.”
Adam Schefter Weighs In on Jonathan Greenard’s Future
Amid Greenard’s uncertain future heading into the new league year, Schefter provided an update on the situation during aMarch 5 appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show.”
“I think there’s a case where I don’t think the Vikings really want to deal him, but it’s one of those cases where if there’s a team that offers enough to go get him, and I think it would be a Day 2 pick, so a second or a third,” Schefter said. “I think Minnesota, because of the financial questions and issues there, is going to have to consider it.”
Furthermore, Schefter believes a trade could be coming, given that Greenard’s name is out in the rumor mill and, most of the time, those names do end up in a trade at some point.
“My guess is, in the end, when these things usually happen, when you hear about a player that a team is open to trading, when there have been discussions, when that happens, usually a trade happens,” Schefter added.
“I would say it’s probably more likely than not, but Minnesota knows how good he is, and I can tell you he isn’t going to be thrilled about giving him up.”