The Minnesota Vikings traded Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles, the teams announced Friday night. In return, the Vikings received a third-round pick in 2026 (No. 98) and another third-rounder in 2027. The Vikings also sent the No. 244 pick in this draft to the Eagles.
Greenard, who turns 29 in May, had been seeking a new contract with a pay raise, and he landed such a deal with the Eagles: a four-year, $100 million deal, according to a league source, with $50 million guaranteed.
While the Vikings didn’t necessarily want to move Greenard, this outcome provided the team with extra draft capital and more financial flexibility, as well as a runway for third-year edge rusher Dallas Turner to continue to ascend.
In the aftermath of this move, the Vikings are likely to use at least one of their remaining premium draft picks on the defensive line or the edge.
The Vikings signed Greenard as a free agent in 2024 to replace Danielle Hunter. Greenard perfectly fit defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ system. He effectively set the edge against the run. He also successfully rushed the passer, recording one of the highest pressure rates in the NFL over the last two seasons.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell also leaned on him as a locker room voice. Greenard played a major leadership role.
Greenard was owed $19 million in each of 2026 and 2027 as part of the contract he signed in 2024. He and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, preferred a pay increase that would put him among the 10 highest-paid edge rushers. The Vikings, who navigated a $46.6 million salary-cap crunch at the beginning of the offseason, wanted to keep him at his current number.
The Vikings weren’t going to give him up without premium draft capital.
Turner’s role will now increase as the edge rusher opposite Andrew Van Ginkel. Once Greenard underwent shoulder surgery in Week 15, Turner stepped in and impacted games at an admirable level, finishing with eight sacks.
The Vikings will be banking on him and the rest of their new defensive line additions to maintain the performance that has anchored the defense since Flores arrived in 2023.
The Eagles lost Jaelan Phillips to Carolina in free agency on a four-year, $120 million contract. The team wanted to keep Phillips and even engaged in conversations with Trey Hendrickson, showing the desire for a high-level edge rusher to join Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith in the top three. The Eagles made two mid-level moves, signing Arnold Ebiketie and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. Both were more depth signings than top-of-the-depth-chart players, like Phillips was and Greenard would be with the Eagles.
This type of move would likely make Greenard the top edge rusher. Smith is entering his fourth season with the Eagles, and the team has until May 1 to pick up his fifth-year option. Hunt became a consistent starter last season and shows considerable promise entering Year 3. The addition of Greenard might put the long-term future of either Smith or Hunt in doubt, but the Eagles could keep all three in 2026.
Greenard is a strong fit for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s scheme with his ability to pressure the quarterback, play physically in the run game and even drop into coverage on occasions. The Eagles had the chance to pursue Greenard in free agency in 2024 when they made Bryce Huff their big-ticket signing. The Huff signing did not work, and now the Eagles have ensured that Greenard will wear green with a major trade.
