With the NFL franchise deadline coming and going today, there were several key players who will hit the open market this offseason, including Cincinnati Bengals star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson.
Other notable free agents that didn’t receive the franchise tag included Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum, Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Odafe Oweh, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce, and others.
Oweh and Hendrickson add to the pass-rush pool of free agents, and could be among the top
players available at the position this offseason. There have been rumors about other potential pass rushers being available on the market, such as Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby, while Jaelen Phillips, Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, Kwity Paye, and others will be free agents.
On Tuesday, one more name popped up as a player who could be available for trade this offseason: Minnesota Vikings pass rusher Jonathan Greenard. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Minnesota is open to trading the pass rusher due to its salary cap issues, with Greenard holding cap hits of $22.3 million and $19 million over the next two seasons.
However, none of that money is fully guaranteed, so a team that trades for Greenard may need to work out a new contract for the talented pass rusher. Could that be the San Francisco 49ers?
Last week, it was reported that the 49ers could be sneaky contenders for the top free agent defensive linemen and wide receivers on the open market. They have some cap space to spend, and Greenard may be a better fit for the team at 28 years old with his pass-rushing ability.
Greenard shone in his first season in Minnesota, recording 12 sacks, 11.5 stuffs, and four forced fumbles in 2024. He totaled 84 pressures, according to PFF, with a pass-rush win rate of 15.2 percent. That earned him a Pro Bowl appearance.
This year, playing in only 12 games due to a shoulder injury, Greenard’s sack numbers were down (3), but he still had a high pressure rate (13.5 percent) that ranked seventh in the NFL, according to ESPN.
While it’s unclear what draft compensation would be asked for in a Greenard trade, a Day 2 pick makes sense given his age and ability.
The defensive line and creating pressure is a top priority for the 49ers this offseason, general manager John Lynch said at the NFL Combine last week, and adding a player like Greenard opposite Nick Bosa could solve that.
With him in the fold, San Francisco could focus more on their interior defensive line in free agency or the draft, solidifying a position that really struggled to generate pressure in 2025. Depth and top-level talent have been key for the 49ers at defensive line, which they just didn’t have last year.
But they’ll be getting Bosa and first-round pick Mykel Williams back from torn ACLs, while Bryce Huff remains under contract off the edge. So the price and potential contract restructure will absolutely matter here. Still, there aren’t too many opportunities to acquire a player of Greenard’s caliber heading into his age-29 season, especially given the free agency pool.
