Jonathan Greenard has come up in trade rumors recently. The Vikings were tied to potentially moving the Pro Bowl edge rusher ahead of free agency, and the Eagles were connected to the ex-Texan after failing to re-sign Jaelan Phillips.
The draft serves as a second trade window of sorts, keeping the possibility Minnesota moves on as reasonable. But Greenard is obviously a key piece in Brian Flores‘ defense — one currently deep at edge rusher — and Kevin O’Connell expects the seventh-year veteran to remain in place.
“Yeah, I expect him to be part of our team,” O’Connell said, via ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert. “I know there’s always conversations. There’s conversations throughout the offseason, and we’ll continue to kind of attack things at the different phases. We’re getting ready to really jump heavily into draft meetings when we get back. But at the same time, we’re always going to try to do what’s best for our team and also what we think is best for each one of our individual players. And that’s an ongoing thing throughout every offseason.”
This certainly stops short of slamming the door shut on a potential trade, and last week’s league meetings brought staffers together for potential trade talks ahead of the draft. Minnesota was linked to wanting a Day 2 pick for Greenard, and Philadelphia was connected at multiple points. The Eagles have not made a splash addition here, though they have signed options in Arnold Ebitketie and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.
Two years remain on Greenard’s four-year, $76MM contract. Only $4MM remains guaranteed, having locked in on Day 3 of the league year, though Greenard will lock in the rest of his base salary ($18.39MM) shortly before Week 1 as a vested veteran.
Minnesota added Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel in 2024, signing the vets shortly before using a first-round pick on Dallas Turner. The younger rusher impressed as a part-time starter last season, tallying eight sacks and 15 QB hits during a 10-start campaign. Both Greenard and Van Ginkel missed time due to injury, opening the door for Turner. The Vikings are in a good position with three quality edge rushers. Van Ginkel is also going into an age-31 season, and one year remains on the extension he signed in 2025. His status could influence Minnesota with Greenard, though Seifert adds a trade remains possible.
Greenard is believed to have an issue with his contract, which sits 21st among edge defenders after two more offseasons’ worth of deals. With the former Will Anderson Jr. complementary rusher having been voted a Pro Bowl starter in 2024, a push for a revised pact — not unlike where the Vikings were for years with Danielle Hunter — makes sense. Though, Greenard also took a step back in production last season. After a 12-sack 2024, Greenard tallied just three on 12 QB hits last season. He did sprinkle in 10 tackles for loss, which will help his case at an adjustment.
The Vikings are operating without a GM presently, with no official search on tap until after the draft. Minnesota’s next GM, should the team pass on a pre- or mid-draft trade, will have this matter to deal with. Training camp serves as another trade window, so this matter may linger even if Greenard makes it through the draft as a Viking.
Elsewhere on Minnesota’s roster, the team lost center Ryan Kelly to retirement. Kelly had signed a two-year, $18MM deal, but after a three-concussion 2025, the longtime Colts blocker opted to walk away. As of now, Blake Brandel is the starter. O’Connell labeled the utility lineman a center recently, but Seifert notes the team’s starter here may not be on the roster yet.
Tied to a three-year, $9.5MM contract that expires after this season, Brandel has made 31 career starts. He was Kelly’s primary sub last season, logging 383 center snaps, but had never made any snaps in the NFL prior to 2025. An injury to backup Michael Jurgens — a 2024 seventh-round pick — also affected Brandel’s standing last season.
Brandel, 29, was Minnesota’s full-time left guard in 2024, but the Vikings have Will Fries and Donovan Jackson at guard. The team used a first-round pick to bring in Jackson last year. O’Connell said the Vikings “wouldn’t hesitate” to bring in another center in the draft or free agency. Veteran starters Ethan Pocic and Andre James are among the available snappers. No center looks to be realistic for the Vikings in Round 1, but as Day 2 begins, Minnesota appears interested in adding a true Kelly replacement.