Detroit Lions broad receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) secures a reception as Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) closes in throughout second-half motion. Nov. 2, 2025, at Ford Subject in Detroit, Michigan, St. Brown fought for additional yardage in a tightly contested NFC North matchup. Obligatory Credit score: Junfu Han-USA TODAY NETWORK-Imagn Photos.
With the NFL’s offseason within the books, NFL media is opining on the very best and worst transactions from February via Could. And for the Minnesota Vikings, ESPN has determined that buying and selling Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles was the membership’s worst choice of the offseason.
Few liked the transfer to dump Greenard, so Seth Walder’s opinion merely served as a affirmation this week.
Dallas Turner All of the sudden Has a Greater Job
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) celebrates after a fourth-quarter sack towards the Houston Texans at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Sep. 22, 2024, reacting to a key defensive play that energized teammates and the house crowd throughout one other forceful late-game exhibiting by Minnesota’s cross rush below Brian Flores’ course that afternoon. Obligatory Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Photos.
Walder: Buying and selling Greenard Was MIN’s Worst Offseason Transfer
Walder defined his disdain: “Move I disliked: Trading Edge Jonathan Greenard for two third-round picks. During the draft, the Vikings dealt Greenard, one of their best players, to the Eagles in exchange for two third-round picks.”
“I don’t think it was worth it, especially in the current trade environment for high-end players. Despite only three sacks in 12 games last season, Greenard’s 23.2% pass rush win rate at edge would have ranked fourth at the position had he qualified.”
It’s price noting that he championed the Kyler Murray signing: “The best thing about the Vikings’ offseason is them signing Murray to a veterans minimum deal, which was possible due to his offsets from his contract with the Cardinals. It was a boon for Minnesota.”
“Murray’s services would be worth many millions more on the free market, and he provides an answer at quarterback in the wake of J.J. McCarthy’s rough 2025 season.”
Not Sufficient Dough — Apparently
Minnesota spent its 2026 offseason resetting the wage cap, refusing to entertain big-name free brokers — other than Kyler Murray, who turned obtainable for reasonable — and as a substitute specializing in bargain-bin performers like James Pierre (CB) and Ryan Van Demark (OT). The membership additionally added broad receiver Jauan Jennings on a base wage of $8 million.
What it didn’t have was $100 million over 4 years for Greenard. That needed to be near his asking worth for the Vikings; they may not afford it. The Eagles obliged.
Twenty-five million bucks for a cross rusher like Greenard is honest market worth. It in all probability hurts his trigger that he solely logged 3 sacks in 2025. Three sacks and $25 million don’t jibe.
A Full Pivot to Dallas Turner
The Greenard commerce modified Turner’s profession with the snap of two fingers.
Previous to the commerce, Turner confronted a crowded path. Vikings followers have eagerly anticipated his breakout season, an affordable expectation given his hefty 2024 price ticket through commerce. Nevertheless, Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel remained forward of him on the depth chart. Whereas a “good problem” for Minnesota, it difficult efforts to completely outline Turner’s function.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner (15) participates in coaching camp drills on the Minnesota Vikings Coaching Facility in Eagan, Minnesota, on Jul. 29, 2025, working via an offseason session because the younger edge rusher continued constructing pass-rush approach and luxury inside Brian Flores’ protection earlier than a bigger function arrived for Minnesota. Obligatory Credit score: Matt Krohn-Imagn Photos.
Now, it’s completely different. Turner not must contend for restricted snaps behind two established exterior linebackers. The Vikings can present him with a considerable workload, permitting his athleticism to shine and figuring out if his flashes of potential final season had been the harbinger of one thing a lot better.
That’s the inherent upside of dropping Greenard. Regardless of being a tricky commerce, it clarifies the depth chart.
After all, Minnesota nonetheless has work to do. Whereas Turner and Van Ginkel can lead the group, the Vikings doubtless want yet another dependable exterior linebacker. That would imply buying a veteran like Jadeveon Clowney or Leonard Floyd — somebody with expertise who can set the EDGE and supply sufficient pass-rush prowess to keep up a strong protection.
So, whereas the Greenard commerce stings on paper, for Turner, it is likely to be what the physician ordered.
Change Greenard with a FA EDGE?
The Vikings can ease the ache of the Greenard commerce if Turner thrives. They’ll additionally signal a veteran EDGE who provides some semblance of his manufacturing. The aforementioned Clowney and Floyd would possibly take advantage of sense, however the checklist doesn’t finish there.
These free-agent exterior linebackers are eagerly awaiting 2026 employment:
Derek Barnett
Marcus Davenport
Jerry Hughes
Yannick Ngakoue
Emmanuel Ogbah
Josh Paschal
Haason Reddick
Preston Smith
Kyle Van Noy
Von Miller
All these gamers might be gettable for $10 million or much less, and Minnesota has $13 million within the financial institution proper to make use of on summer time free brokers.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) celebrates a second-half sack towards the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Sep. 14, 2025, bringing power to the Vikings’ protection as Minnesota’s cross rush produced strain throughout a house matchup formed by front-seven disruption and well timed defensive execution that evening. Obligatory Credit score: Matt Krohn-Imagn Photos.
Dropping Greenard isn’t preferrred, particularly for a staff aspiring to win a Tremendous Bowl, however Turner and an EDGE to be named later could make it much less painful. Followers may also take solace in figuring out that Flores in all probability is aware of what he’s doing. The Vikings’ defensive boss has not showcased a poor protection but in Minnesota; that in all probability gained’t begin in 2026.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
