The Minnesota Vikings dealt their star pass rusher Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles during the NFL Draft this weekend.
After Minnesota and Greenard were unable to reach an agreement on a revised contract, the two sides felt the best thing forward was to part ways. Ultimately, the Vikings received a third-round pick in 2026 and one in 2027 as part of the deal, but ESPN Insider Adam Schefter revealed that Minnesota was initially hoping for much more.Â
âThe interesting part of this trade is that it had been in the works for weeks,â said Schefter on The Pat McAfee Show. âThere was a point in mid-March where these two teams were discussing a potential trade for Greenard and they couldn’t agree on the value at that point in time. I believe the Eagles were offering a third-round pick this year, the Vikings wanted a second-round pick this year, and talks stalled entirely.â
âOn Thursday, the two sides connected again and agreed to the trade.â
Minnesota Ends Up Settling in their Trade of Jonathan Greenard
It had been long rumored that Minnesota was hoping for at least a second-round pick for Greenard. On the surface, it didnât feel like a ridiculous asking price after seeing Maxx Crosby (almost) getting traded for two-firsts, but ultimately the Eagles never wanted to go that high. Instead, the Vikings landed two third-rounders, and took Miami safety Jakobe Thomas with this yearâs pick.Â
After coming off a down season in 2025 in which he only notched three sacks, Greenardâs contract demands seemed a bit out of left field. He was a captain and a respected leader, and interim general manager Rob Brzezinski admitted that the Vikings werenât happy to trade him.
âWeâre going to miss him,â he said. âWeâre happy he was able to get himself a new contract, but this is not something weâre jumping around excitedly about. We did feel like it was the best thing for the organization moving forward.âÂ
Itâs clear that Minnesota was thrilled with their pick haul for Greenard, but the market just wasnât there for the 28-year old pass rusher.Â
The Viking Defense Will Have a Much Different Look in 2026Â
The Vikings invested heavily into their defense during the draft, taking a player on that side of the ball with four of their first five selections.Â
Their biggest prize of the weekend, first-round pick Caleb Banks, could help to ease the pain of losing Greenard if he can develop and stay healthy.Â
âCaleb Banks is a good player,â said Mel Kiper Jr. after the draft. âHe can wreak havoc on opposing linemen and has legit burst to affect the quarterback in the pocket as an interior pass rusher (4.5 sacks in 2024). Heâs at his best as a run stuffer, closing gaps with his 6-foot-6, 327-pound frame, and he brings scheme versatility to the table. But his foot has been a major problem.âÂ
Along with Banks, and new nose tackle Domonique Orange, former first-round pick Dallas Turner will see a significant increase in his role in 2026.
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