The Eagles have made a major splash on Day 2 of the draft: They are acquiring edge defender Jonathan Greenard and a 2026 seventh-rounder from the Vikings, per Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport. The Eagles and Greenard have agreed to a four-year, $100MM extension with $50MM guaranteed. The Vikings will receive a 2026 third-rounder (No. 98) and a third-rounder next year.
The Eagles’ interest in Greenard first became public before free agency opened in early March. Philadelphia then lost one of its best edge defenders, Jaelan Phillips, who inked a four-year, $120MM contract with the Panthers. The Eagles later added Arnold Ebiketie and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka on modest pacts, but they continued pushing for Greenard.
The Vikings and Greenard were optimistic he would stay in Minnesota and potentially ink an extension, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. Instead, though, he will head to the second NFC destination of his career. The trade will save the Vikings a whopping $34MM in cap space, Schefter relays. They entered Friday with around $4.83MM in breathing room (via Over the Cap).
As a 2020 third-round pick from Florida, Greenard started his career with the Texans. After a quiet rookie year, Greenard began showing off his pass-rushing chops in 2021. Despite missing five games with a foot injury, he notched 12 QB hits and eight sacks. Another injury, this time to his calf, held Greenard to eight games during a 1.5-sack showing in 2022. Greenard mostly stayed healthy in 2023, the final season of his rookie contract, and his production exploded. Teaming with then-rookie Will Anderson Jr., the 6-foot-3, 259-pound Greenard put up 52 tackles (15 TFL), 22 QB hits and 12.5 sacks in 15 games.
Greenard’s best season in Houston wound up as his last. The Vikings, who would lose Danielle Hunter to the Texans in free agency, brought in Greenard as his replacement. Playing the first season of a four-year, $76MM deal in 2024, Greenard continued to thrive en route to his first Pro Bowl selection. He logged his first 17-game season and recorded 59 tackles (18 TFL), 22 QB hits, a career-best four forced fumbles and 12 sacks.
Health issues reared their head again in 2025 for Greenard, who battled a shoulder injury and underwent season-ending surgery in December. Greenard ended the season with 38 tackles (10 TFL), 12 QB hits and three sacks in a dozen games. While Greenard’s traditional production wasn’t great, Pro Football Focus ranked his play a solid 31st among 119 edge defenders. He finished 17th in hurries (35) and 30th in pressures (47). Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner stepped up during a limited year for Greenard, and they will remain in key roles for the Vikings next season.
Set to turn 29 in May, Greenard will now join Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith as the Eagles’ top pass rushers. If healthy, Greenard could help form a monstrous front in Philadelphia, whose Vic Fangio-led defense boasts an incredible collection of D-tackles (Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo) and linebackers (Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell).
The Greenard acquisition may not end up as the last blockbuster trade of the offseason for aggressive Eagles general manager Howie Roseman. Expectations are Roseman will ship out wide receiver A.J. Brown sometime between June 2 and the start of the season.
And the Eagles keep the higher of the 3rd rounders for this year. Well done Howie.
Yep. Was a comp pick. Cheaper than Phillips and is more productive.
great job. good luck when Greenard misses 5 games
Kick rocks nerd.
FOH with that nonsense. Stop being a dweeb because somebody said something about your favorite team’s new player. This isn’t social media.
Go play Magic.
Lol doofus I grew up in a Philly rowhome. I’m not impressed by you calling people nerd or talking this ish.
Howie. Stud.
Howie is best GM in the nfl
$100 mil for 3 sacks.. Bryce huff 2.0.. waste $25/yr on this guy when Carter/Davis are due extensions
Nice try. Davis already got an extension. Thanks for being educated.
They are not similar. Even at his best Huff was only a very good designated pass rusher.
Yeah I definitely wouldn’t compare them at all.
Greenard is a big DE who has always been a beast to an extent. Huff is an undersized pass rushing specialist who had a breakout year when used in that specific role.
Greenard also played in the SEC rather than the AAC like Huff did.
MassEagle. Lol.
I’ll take him for a late third for sure.
Solid job keeping the original third but now the Eagles have a serious lack of picks in the middle rounds.
Wonder if they’re gonna move some players themselves? We certainly have depth at a number of positions.
Howie should be able to snag a 4th or 5th rounder for McKee.
Safety?