Vikings Expect To Retain OLB Jonathan Greenard; Team Seeking C Help?
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.
Vikings Designate C Ryan Kelly To Return From IR
The Vikings are designated center Ryan Kelly to return from injured reserve, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Kelly, 32, suffered two concussions in the first four weeks of the season. The first came in Week 2 against the Falcons, sidelining the 10-year veteran for the Vikings’ next game. He returned in Week 4 in Dublin, but he quickly went down with another concussion that landed him on injured reserve. The longtime Colt also suffered multiple concussions during the 2023 season.
Kelly spent five weeks on the shelf – one more than the minimum requirement – but his designation to return suggests that he has progressed through concussion protocol enough to practice. Limited participation this week would indicate that he will need more time before being fully cleared, especially if he practices with a non-contact jersey. Returning to full participation right away would indicate that he has cleared concussion protocol and should be in line to return for the Vikings’ upcoming matchup with the Bears.
Kelly signed in Minnesota this offseason and put together a solid performance to start the year. He earned a 72.2 overall grade and had yet to allow a pressure on 62 pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
The Vikings called on 2024 seventh-round pick Michael Jurgens to finish the game in Weeks 2 and 4, but five-year veteran Blake Brandel took over the starting center job when Kelly was on IR. Brandel has also stepped in at left guard and left tackle amid Minnesota’s other O-line injuries this year.
A strong return from Kelly would give second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy a major boost in terms of his blocking and leadership along the offensive line. The Vikings committed eight false start penalties (at home!) in Sunday’s loss to the Ravens and will certainly want to improve their operation at the line of scrimmage moving forward.
NFC North Notes: Bears, Decker, Vikings
After three years as the Bears‘ left tackle starter, Braxton Jones won a competition to keep the gig during training camp. But the contract-year blocker has since been benched, ceding his blindside spot to Theo Benedet. This leaves the former fifth-round pick in limbo. Teams are now monitoring Jones as a potential trade chip, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Rival clubs are viewing Jones as a “sensible” trade candidate, per Fowler, as the Division I-FCS find has 44 career starts on his resume.
Being benched early in a contract year, Jones does not figure to feature in Chicago’s post-2025 plans. A path to the 2026 free agent market appears clear. Teams are generally reluctant to part with proven O-linemen in trades, but with Chicago having Benedet in place and having used a second-round pick on tackle Ozzy Trapilo, Jones could be deemed expendable. This chain of events has led teams to at least monitor this situation, as Jones’ experience would be intriguing to a team with a tackle need. Pro Football Focus ranks Jones 57th among tackle regulars this season; the advanced metrics site, however, bestowed top-25 marks on the Southern Utah alum in 2022 and ’24.
Here is the latest from the NFC North:
- In and out of the Lions‘ lineup this season, Taylor Decker is battling a shoulder injury. After missing Weeks 5 and 6, Decker reemerged to start against the Buccaneers on Monday night. Decker allowed a sack-strip in protection in the Lions’ Week 7 win but graded out well in PFF’s view. Dan Campbell cast some doubt (via the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett) about Decker returning to 100% this season, considering the unspecified shoulder injury he is battling. Following Frank Ragnow in playing through an injury (as the since-retired center did in 2024), Decker is tied to a three-year, $60MM contract that runs through 2027. The 32-year-old blocker has been the Lions’ starting left tackle since 2016.
- Staying with the O-line theme here, the Vikings are considering moving Blake Brandel to the center position on a full-time basis. Brandel has started at both center and left guard this season, having filled in for Ryan Kelly at center, but has primarily been a guard in the pros. Vikings OC Wes Phillips said (via ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert) center might be his best position. Kelly suffering two concussions early this season makes his IR-return timetable murky, amplifying the importance of the Vikes having Brandel as a swingman. Brandel made 17 starts at guard last season, being demoted due to the Kelly, Will Fries and Donovan Jackson additions this offseason. But he is back in a first-string role as the Vikings face the Chargers tonight.
- Leading up to the 2024 draft, the Giants and Vikings aggressively pursued Drake Maye. Both made strong trade offers for the Patriots’ No. 3 overall pick. Minnesota offered its Nos. 11 and 23 picks, along with its 2025 first-rounder. That rivaled the Giants’ proposal (Nos. 6 and 47, along with a 2025 first). In addition to the Vikes’ first-round choices included in the offer, they and the Pats would have swapped Day 3 picks in the deal, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. Though, the third-day component in this offer brought Minnesota-favored terms, Breer adds. The Pats held onto the pick and chose Maye, which certainly looks like a wise decision. The Vikings moved up one spot to No. 10 for J.J. McCarthy, passing on Bo Nix. The jury is still out on McCarthy’s NFL trajectory.
Donovan Jackson Leading Vikings’ LG Battle
Vikings first-round pick Donovan Jackson “has the inside track to emerge from training camp” as the team’s starting left guard, according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert.
Jackson, the No. 24 selection in April’s draft, made his first 31 college starts at left guard before moving to left tackle to replace injured then-Ohio State teammate Josh Simmons. Jackson performed admirably on the blind side, leading to some pre-draft chatter about his potential as a guard/tackle hybrid.
But with Christian Darrisaw firmly entrenched as the Vikings’ long-term left tackle, Jackson will play left guard in Minnesota. He took the majority of first-team reps during spring practices, per Seifert, though that is partially because starting right guard Will Fries is still sidelined by last season’s broken leg. Blake Brandel, who played every snap at left guard for the Vikings last year, has been working in Fries’ spot, but he will likely still compete with Jackson in training camp once Fries is back on the field.
Brendel struggled in 2024 with 46 quarterback pressures allowed, the second-most among starting guards, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). That gives Jackson a clear opening to seize the starting job by demonstrating better pass protection during the preseason.
The Vikings turned over their offensive line depth this offseason, so there are no other obvious candidates to push Jackson and Brendel for the starting left guard job.
Vikings Waiting For 2022 Draft Class To Step Up
2022 was the first draft in Minnesota for general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. While there have been some success stories like fourth-round cornerback Akayleb Evans becoming a starter in Year 2 and fifth-round running back Ty Chandler serving as a decent RB2 in his sophomore campaign, the class has overall been a bit of a disappointment. 
We already commented on Kevin Seifert of ESPN’s stance that former first-round safety Lewis Cine could be on the roster bubble, but Seifert didn’t stop there, claiming that the other three picks in the first three rounds could run into similar difficulties this offseason.
This statement expands to the later picks of the draft class, as well, though it obviously doesn’t pertain to Evans and Chandler. Worth mentioning, though, is former sixth-round offensive tackle Vederian Lowe, who was traded to the Patriots for a seventh-round pick and went on to start eight games in New England last year, and fifth-round pass rusher Esezi Otomewo, who was waived after a year with the team.
Of the remaining players in the class, LSU second-round offensive guard Ed Ingram has been the most impactful player. Ingram became an instant, full-time starter as a rookie and has only missed two games in his time with the team. That being said, head coach Kevin O’Connell seemed to indicate recently that both starting guard spots are being fought for in a three-way competition between Ingram, backup tackle Blake Brandel, and Dalton Risner.
The battle could be a result of underwhelming performance from the second-rounder. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Ingram graded out as the 57th-best guard in the league out of 77 graded players his rookie year. Though he improved to the 38th-ranked guard in 2023, his overall score that determines those rankings only rose from 57.0 to 59.5. For reference, the top players at the position graded out in the 80s. Ingram could certainly win one of the two available starting jobs over Brandel and Risner, but the fact that, going into his third year, Ingram’s in danger of losing his job as the incumbent starter points to relative disappointment.
Taken 17 picks before Ingram, former Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth has also failed to play up to his second-round draft stock. Booth was already playing behind the starters, Evans and Byron Murphy, last year, but he is in danger of continuing to tumble down the depth chart as free agent addition Shaquill Griffin comes in with far more starting experience and fourth-round rookie Khyree Jackson could have more goodwill to win a roster spot in his first year with the team.
Third-round linebacker Brian Asamoah has likewise failed to crack the rotation in his first two years out of Oklahoma. He’s not likely to earn any starting time in 2024 as he’s been consistently working behind Ivan Pace and Blake Cashman so far this offseason. The free agent addition of veteran Kamu Grugier-Hill will likely take away any snaps as the primary backup at the position, as well.
Seventh-round pick Nick Muse was maybe not expected to do much as a late-round tight end, but he’s only been on the field for two offensive snaps in his career and missed all but two games last year. He may not see much room for improvement in 2024 as he’s been buried on a depth chart that now includes T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Robert Tonyan, and Johnny Mundt.
Lastly, sixth-round receiver Jalen Nailor was also mentioned by Seifert but on a slightly more positive note. Seifert claims that the coaching staff really wants to see Nailor make an impact and possibly earn the WR3 role this offseason. That role was vacated as K.J. Osborn departed for New England in free agency, and the Vikings didn’t really do much to replace Osborn after he left. With Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison leading the receiving corps, Nailor has an opportunity to step up into a crucial role.
Nailor’s early career has been hampered by injury. He missed seven games early in the season last year before sitting out the final four contests, as well. But coaches have pegged him as a “slippery target that defenders have trouble tracking” during his limited time in games and practice. While the coaches are hoping that he’ll force their hand, he’ll be competing with Brandon Powell, who was the fourth receiver on the team after coming over from the Rams last year, and Trent Sherfield, who has been an inconsistent contributor over his six years in the league.
So, Adofo-Mensah’s first draft did not produce the desired results in 2022, and while he did a little better by nailing Addison in the first round last year, the rest of the 2023 class has yet to make their impact. He’ll hope to continue hitting on first-rounders with quarterback J.J. McCarthy and pass rusher Dallas Turner this year, and he’ll hope that late-round picks like Jackson and kicker Will Reichard show their impacts, as well. Entering a bit of a rebuild post–Kirk Cousins, the team’s success will depend partially on how well Adofo-Mensah can build the team moving forward.
Vikings To Re-Sign G Dalton Risner
JUNE 4: The Vikings may end up having Risner back at less than his 2023 salary. The base value of Risner’s second Minnesota contract checks in at $1.91MM, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes. Risner will see a $1.41MM base salary; $600K of that amount is guaranteed. That six-figure sum, along with a $500K signing bonus, bumps the veteran guard’s guarantees here to $1.1MM.
Risner can earn up to $3.2MM on this deal, with Florio adding incentives and roster bonuses are in place. He can collect up to $340K in per-game roster bonuses; additionally, a $200K bonus for being on the Vikings’ Week 1 roster is included. To reach any of the playing time-based incentives, Risner must play at least 75% of Minnesota’s offensive snaps. The three-tiered $750K incentive package ranges from 75-85% snap rates.
MAY 29: Dalton Risner has logged two extensive stays in free agency since his rookie contract expired. For a second straight year, it will be the Vikings who end that period.
The veteran starter has an agreement in place to stay in Minnesota, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter. Risner will rejoin the Vikings on a one-year deal. The team’s eventual Ezra Cleveland replacement, following a midseason trade, made 11 starts last season.
The past two offseasons have added some unexpected chapters to Risner’s NFL career. A Broncos starter in every game he played with his original franchise, the proven guard did not generate interest in free agency last year — to the point he entered the season unsigned. Although Risner made his way into Minnesota’s lineup early in his tenure, he once again failed to command a lucrative deal in free agency. Another Vikings parachute has emerged, however, and the five-year veteran will be a clear option to start once again.
After a handful of guards with similar experience to Risner scored quality deals as free agents in 2023, this year’s record-setting cap spike brought monster deals for a few. Robert Hunt is now a $20MM-per-year player, while four other guards (Jonah Jackson, Kevin Dotson, Damien Lewis, Jon Runyan Jr.) landed pacts worth at least $10MM per annum. Cleveland scored a three-year, $24MM pact to re-sign with the Jaguars. Risner did not join those blockers on PFR’s top 50 free agents list, as last year’s free agency odyssey lowered expectations. But he returned to deliver as a dependable starter for the Vikings, who likely have another low-cost agreement in place with the Kansas State alum.
Pro Football Focus assigned Risner a mid-pack grade at guard (46th) last season, but ESPN’s pass block win rate metric slotted him ninth. Risner, who played for just more than $2.5MM last season, ran his start count to 73 in 2023. It will be interesting to see the numbers here, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicates a 53-man roster bonus and per-game roster bonuses are present in this contract. The Vikes had re-signed Blake Brandel to a one-year, $3.25MM deal. While ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert notes Brandel worked with Minnesota’s first-stringers at OTAs, Risner’s return figures to affect the veteran backup’s standing.
Beginning his Twin Cities tenure as a backup behind Cleveland and Ed Ingram, Risner became a full-time player once the Vikes traded Cleveland to the Jaguars at the deadline. He initially replaced an injured Cleveland before becoming the team’s replacement. Two years remain on Ingram’s rookie contract, and the Vikes still have Christian Darrisaw tied to a rookie deal. Risner, 28, will now be on track to protect J.J. McCarthy — potentially after a span blocking for Sam Darnold — in 2024.
The Broncos used Risner as a four-season starter, pairing him with veteran guards Ronald Leary and Graham Glasgow before Quinn Meinerz‘s emergence. Sean Payton‘s first offseason in charge led to Ben Powers signing a four-year, $52MM deal. Risner will continue to pursue a significant veteran deal, but he has a path back to a starting role in the meantime.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/11/24
On the busiest transaction day of the NFL year, here are a few moves that maybe didn’t make the headlines:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: TE Charlie Woerner
Baltimore Ravens
- Re-signed: Malik Harrison
Buffalo Bills
- Re-signed: CB Cam Lewis
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Re-signed: OL Blake Hance
Kansas City Chiefs
- Re-signed: LS James Winchester
Minnesota Vikings
- Re-signed: G Blake Brandel, T David Quessenberry
New York Giants
- Re-signed: LB Carter Coughlin, WR/KR Gunner Olszewski
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB Zack Baun
Woerner is probably one of the bigger names on this list. After serving as a reliable run-blocking tight end with the 49ers for the duration of his rookie contract, Woerner earns a new three-year deal worth up to $12MM to head to Atlanta, according to ESPN’s Michael Rothstein.
Brandel may be the next biggest deal on this list. After making five starts in 39 game appearances with the Vikings during his rookie deal, Brandel earned a new three-year, $9.5MM contract to remain in Minnesota. Quessenberry joins him as a depth lineman sticking around.
Lewis also gets to stick around on a multi-year deal, signing a two-year, $4MM deal to remain in Buffalo. A valuable special teamer, Lewis has done a good job of getting himself worked into the rotation on defense a good amount over the course of his rookie deal.
Olszewski earns another year in New York after solving a big issue on punt returns for the Giants last year. Baun heads to Philadelphia as a strong backup after starting 14 games for the Saints during his first four years in the league.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/17/23
Today’s minor moves around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Noah Togiai
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: S Zayne Anderson
Minnesota Vikings
- Re-signed: OL Blake Brandel, DL Khyiris Tonga
New Orleans Saints
- Re-signed: WR Keith Kirkwood
Anderson has signed a two-year deal, per the Bills’ announcement of the move. The 26-year-old joined the Chiefs in 2021, and made a total of seven appearances across the past two seasons, only seeing action on special teams.
The fact that the Vikings re-signed pending ERFAs Brandel and Tonga this early speaks to how highly they are valued by the organization. Brandel filled in for Christian Darrisaw at left tackle when the latter was concussed, while Tonga logged two starts and a 36% snap share in 2022. Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that each signed a one-year deal at $940K, which would have been their tender amounts.
Kirkwood, 28, was set to hit the open market in March but the Saints will have him place for the 2023 season. Originally signed by New Orleans as a UDFA in 2018, he returned to the Saints this past season after a pair of campaigns with the Panthers. He recorded only two catches, but saw an offensive snap share of 46%.
Vikings C Garrett Bradbury To Return For Wild-Card Round
The Vikings’ offensive line will be in much better shape from a health perspective when they host the Giants later today compared to recent weeks. Starting center Garrett Bradbury will return to the lineup today, as detailed by Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. 
The 27-year-old had been sidelined since Week 13 due to a lower back injury. The issue was sufficient to keep him from being able to suit up on its own, but as Tomasson notes, a minor car accident Bradbury was involved in shortly afterwards aggravated the injury. Fortunately for he and the team, however, he has recovered in time for the postseason.
The former first-rounder did not live up to expectations during the first three seasons of his career, leading Minnesota to decline his fifth-year option. Bradbury entered the season with questions surrounding his status as the team’s starter in the middle of the o-line, but he played nearly every snap this year prior to being shelved by the back issue. His improved play in year four was reflected by a career-best PFF grade of 70.2, the 10th-highest mark at the position.
In Bradbury’s absence, the Vikings had turned to Austin Schlottmann at center until he went down with a season-ending injury. That left Minnesota with third-stringer Chris Reed to close out the regular season and, if not for Bradbury’s return, to start today against New York. Now, though, the NC State product will be available to line up against Dexter Lawrence and the Giants’ defensive front after he practiced in full Thursday and Friday.
“[Bradbury] demonstrated a complete readiness to play this weekend,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said in advance of this afternoon’s contest. “I’m really excited about having Garrett back in there. He’s been huge for us all season long.”
Elsewhere on the offensive line, the Vikings received another piece of good news with swing tackle Blake Brandel being activated from IR yesterday. That will allow him to start at right tackle, the spot vacated by Brian O’Neill‘s partial Achilles tear. Oli Udoh had been playing in that spot, but Brandel had gotten the nod for three straight games before his IR stint. Overall, Minnesota should head into today’s game with better confidence in their front five than they had in recent contests.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/14/23
Today’s minor moves in advance of the second day of Super Wild-Card Weekend:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed to active roster: S Ar’Darius Washington
- Elevated: WRs Andy Isabella, Binjimen Victor
- Placed on IR: WR Tylan Wallace
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: WR John Brown, DT Eli Ankou
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DE Raymond Johnson, LB Keandre Jones
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: OL Lester Cotton, RB La’Mical Perine
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from IR: T Blake Brandel
- Waived: C Greg Mancz
New York Giants
- Elevated: RB Jashaun Corbin, WR Kalil Pimpleton