Vikings Place Pro Bowler on Trade Block
The Minnesota Vikings have already entertained the idea of trading Javon Hargrave and Aaron Jones, but on Tuesday, a new report suggested Pro Bowler Jonathan Greenard would join them on the trade block.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter notified the masses, stating on social media, “Vikings are now open to trading Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, per sources. They would like to keep Greenard, but they also have salary cap issues they’re working through that have led to these trade conversations.”
Greenard has worn the purple colors since signing with the organization during free agency a couple of years ago. As Danielle Hunter was ready to depart, the Vikings had to acquire a new primary pass rusher.
Ironically, they found one departing from Hunter’s eventual new employer. Greenard received a whopping four-year, $76 million deal. A lucrative deal, sure, but he quickly outplayed that salary en route to a Pro Bowl nomination in his debut season in Minnesota.
In Year 1, Greenard recorded 12 sacks and 59 tackles, ranking near the top in all pass-rush categories. Coordinator Brian Flores sent him after the quarterback on most downs, while Andrew Van Ginkel had varying roles depending on the play calls.
Last season, Greenard didn’t produce at the same level, but he still pressured quarterbacks at a high rate. Unfortunately, he often failed to finish plays, recording only 3 sacks. A shoulder injury cost him five games.
In many of the games he appeared in, Greenard was not at 100% and he delayed the season-ending surgery until the franchise was officially eliminated.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell said after announcing the defender would miss the last few contests of the year, “He was not going to be denied when he got his strength and got what he needed to be cleared to play. He knew he would not be able to put this behind him until probably he could get it fixed, whenever that was going to be. I’m just so proud of him. I know he’ll get it fixed and be ready to rock and roll.”
Of course, Greenard is too good to be cut, but a trade would still provide the cap relief the Vikings are seemingly looking for. The veteran is on the books with a salary cap hit of $22.15 million in 2026. A trade would free up $12.25 million of that.
Greenard will draw interest around the league. He’s on a reasonable two-year contract and should have a few more years left, as he’s still only 28.
For the Vikings, a departure would create a new problem. Suddenly, the club would need a couple of more edge rushers next to Van Ginkel and likely promoted starter Dallas Turner. The latter made promising strides in the second half of last season, especially when he was playing in Greenard’s role during his injury. That fact certainly makes a divorce easier to swallow.
Still, giving away arguably the top defender on a team that’s relying on the defense more than most doesn’t seem like the best way to get rid of salary cap issues. Greenard is a true difference-maker on Flores’ unit. Furthermore, Greenard played a major role as a vocal leader in Minnesota’s locker room over the past two years.
Over the next few days, many more moves will follow in the Twin Cities. The Vikings still need to clear over $40 million in cap space until next week.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.