Jonathan Greenard, Minnesota Vikings
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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
This offseason, Minnesota Vikings‘ Jonathan Greenard has seen his name in the trade speculation. Nonetheless, no offer hasbeen made, but with the NFL Draft right around the corner, that could change.
After this upcoming 2026 NFL season, Greenard will have one year left on his contract. As a result, it’s no surprise there’s conversation about his future, both from the player’s perspective, who will likely want a new contract, and from the Vikings, who are probably pondering whether to extend him.
Since joining the team in 2024, Greenard has recorded 97 total tackles, 15.0 sacks, and five forced fumbles across 29 games with the Vikings,per StatMuse. Despite speculation regarding his future, former linebacker Ben Leber doesn’t see Minnesota trading Greenard this offseason.
“I think he stays and I’m saying that both from my head and from my heart,”Leber said during a March 26 appearance on KFAN. “I truly think that he is such a key part of this defenseand I understand where he’s coming from on the player standpoint.
“You look at his production, you look at his disruption numbers, and you just go out and watch four games when he’s healthy. He’s probably the best defensive player on the field. Sometimes, depending on who we’re playing, he might be the best defensive guy on the field in general.”
Jonathan Greenard Is Vital for Minnesota’s Defense
Moreover, Leber understands why Greenard wants a pay raise from the Vikings or, if traded, from another team.The former Vikings linebacker shared stats that show how importantof a pass rusher Greenard is to the team’s defense.
“He plays the run extremely well,” Leber added. “He’s so disruptive.There are so many times where he’s getting to the quarterbackand there’s just a slippage by the quarterbackand the quarterback’s getting away. You’d love to capitalize on those, but those quarterback hurries, the disruption points, if he is able to capitalize next year on some of those drive-bys and bringing the quarterback down, all of a suddennow he’s an All-Pro type of player.
“I understand that he probably wants $4 million or $5 million more tacked on each year, which I don’t think is a huge number, but again, we’re really up against the cap. So we probably don’t have much wiggle room because we’ve kind of pulled all those levers through the other restructures we’ve done. So we are strapped for cash.”
Vikings Should Hold Firm on Any Asking Price
Nonetheless, Leber notes that a trade is possible if the Vikings believe Greenard’s unhappiness over the potential lack of a pay raise could affect his effort or mood in the locker room. Leber also stated that Minnesota shouldn’t trade the pass rusher for pennies on the dollar.
“If he digs his feet in, and he doesn’t seem like a guy that’s going to be a turd about it, I don’t think that if they don’t find a trade partner, he’s going to come in and be a cancer in the locker room,” Leber said. “I just don’t think that’s his personality. But you do have to weigh how motivated he will be and how disgruntled he will be if he doesn’t get what he wants.
“If I’m the Vikings from a business standpoint, I’m not going to give him up for just a fourth-rounder. That doesn’t make any sense. He is a second-rounder at least. At least. I don’t know, I would even take a third-rounder. So I think that he’s a second-round pick at least, and if they don’t get that, then I think he stays.”