The Minnesota Vikings announced on Apr. 24 that they have traded outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard and the 244th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to the Philadelphia Eagles. In return, the Vikings will receive a third-round pick in 2026 (98th overall) and another third-round pick in 2027.
This move is significant as it reshapes both teams’ rosters and provides Minnesota with additional draft capital for future seasons. The trade also impacts the Vikings’ defensive lineup, creating opportunities for younger players.
Greenard joined Minnesota as a free agent in 2024 and quickly became an important part of their defense under coordinator Brian Flores. In his first season with the team, he started all 17 games, recording career highs with 12 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, and four forced fumbles. According to analytics site Pro Football Focus, his total of 84 pressures tied him with Rams rookie Jared Verse for most in the league that year. Greenard’s performance earned him his first Pro Bowl selection after the 2024 season.
Although his sack numbers declined in 2025 due to injury—he missed three games with a shoulder issue—Greenard still led the team with 47 pressures and posted a pass rush grade of 77.6 from Pro Football Focus. He finished last season with three sacks, ten tackles for loss, twelve quarterback hits, one forced fumble, and three passes defensed over twelve games played.
Before joining Minnesota, Greenard spent four years with Houston after being selected by the Texans in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He started thirty-two out of forty-eight games there and achieved a personal best of twelve-and-a-half sacks during his final year.
With Greenard’s departure from Minnesota two years into his four-year contract signed in 2024, Dallas Turner is expected to take on more responsibility at outside linebacker. Turner was drafted seventeenth overall by Minnesota in 2024 and saw increased playing time last season along with improvements across several statistical categories.
The Vikings said this trade will provide salary cap relief this year as well as greater financial flexibility moving forward. It was also their second trade during Day Two of this year’s draft; earlier that night they moved back two spots before selecting linebacker Jake Golday from Cincinnati at number fifty-one.
