With just over a week to go before the start of the new NFL league year, the Minnesota Vikings are looking for ways to get compliant with the salary cap, and word has surfaced that they may be looking to move on from one of their more dynamic defensive players.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Vikings are reportedly “open” to trading edge rusher Jonathan Greenard. Trading Greenard would save the Vikings a little more than $12 million in salary cap space.
Greenard signed a four-year, $76 million deal with the Vikings ahead of the 2024 season, and went on to have the best season of his career that year. He collected 12 sacks along with 59 tackles and four forced fumbles as he started all 17 games for the Vikings that season. This past year, he struggled with multiple injuries that limited him to 12 games, and he had just three sacks (along with what seemed like about a dozen “almost sacks”), along with 38 total tackles.
It will be interesting to see what sort of trade market forms for Greenard, given that teams know that the Vikings are in a bit of a pinch with their salary cap situation at this point. You also have to wonder if Greenard is a player that the Vikings might wind up cutting if they can’t find a trade partner for him, though it stands to reason that he would still be a very valuable player for the Vikings to have around as part of their defense.
What do you think of a potential Jonathan Greenard deal, folks? If the Vikings were to deal him away, what do you think would be an adequate return for them to get in exchange?
