The Minnesota Vikings announced on Apr. 24 that they have traded outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard and the 244th overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft to the Philadelphia Eagles. In return, Minnesota will receive a third-round pick in 2026 (98th overall) and another third-round pick in 2027.
Greenard joined the Vikings as a free agent in 2024 and played two seasons under defensive coordinator Brian Flores. During his first year with Minnesota, he started all 17 games, recording career highs with 12 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, and four forced fumbles. He also tied for most pressures in the NFL that season according to analytics site Pro Football Focus, earning his first Pro Bowl selection.
In the following season, Greenard’s sack total decreased but he remained effective on defense before missing the final three games due to a shoulder injury. He finished the year with three sacks, ten tackles for loss, twelve quarterback hits, one forced fumble, and three passes defensed over twelve games.
Before joining Minnesota, Greenard spent four seasons with Houston after being drafted by them in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. His best season there came in 2023 when he posted a career-high twelve-and-a-half sacks.
With Greenard’s departure from Minnesota still having two years left on his contract signed in 2024, Dallas Turner is expected to take on greater responsibility at outside linebacker. Turner saw significant increases across multiple statistical categories during his second season with the team.
This trade provides additional salary cap space for Minnesota this year as well as increased financial flexibility next year. It was also their second trade of Day Two of this year’s draft; earlier they moved back two spots before selecting linebacker Jake Golday out of Cincinnati.