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MN Vikings Place Top Pass Rusher on Trade Block
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- MN Vikings Place Top Pass Rusher on Trade Block
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The Minnesota Vikings are preparing for the start of NFL free agency on March 11. But really, we are all counting down days until the legal tampering period begins two days earlier, on March 9.
Before we get that far, though, the Vikings must shed about $45 million in 2026 salary , in order to get cap-compliant. Of course, chopping that much from next year's books became a lot more difficult when the Wilfs closed their pocketbooks for the offseason.
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Now, salary cap guru (and acting general manager ) Rob Brzezinski will have to get creative, if the Vikings are going to make any room to add a quarterback and fill other holes throughout the roster.
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Minnesota Vikings open to trading Jonathan Greenard
Then late Tuesday morning, Adam Schefter (ESPN) is reporting that the Minnesota Vikings have placed 2024 Pro Bowl pass rusher Jonathan Greenard on the trade block.
According to the league's most trusted insider, Minnesota's three-headed defensive leadership monster (Brzezinski, O'Connell, Flores) is "now open to trading" their 28-year-old former free agency steal.
Vikings are now open to trading Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Geeenard, per sources.
They would like to keep Greenard, but they also have salary cap issues they're working through that have led to these trade conversations. pic.twitter.com/kLRO73aFOz— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 3, 2026
At first glance, Schefter's report is surprising. In 2024 , Jonathan Greenard was arguably the best player on one of the NFL's top defenses, posting 12 sacks to go with 59 total tackles and 22 QB hits.
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That was his first season in purple, fresh off a 12.5 sack, 59 tackle, 22-hit season with the Houston Texans in 2023. Unfortunately, Greenard struggled with injuries that put a damper on his 2025 season in Minnesota.
Related: Another Insider Casts Serious Doubt on MN Vikings' Faith in JJ McCarthy
When the dust settled, Jonathan Greenard appeared in twelve games last season, and started only ten. And his production dipped along with his health, as the 2020 3rd round pick out of Florida/Louisville totalled just 3 sacks, 38 tackles and 12 QB hits.
Pair that with the $12 million that Minnesota can save against the cap if they can find a Jonathan Greenard trade partner before June 1 ($18.8 million – post-June 1) combined with the continued development of 2024 first round pick Dallas Turner… and Greenard's sudden stay on the offseason trade block makes more sense.
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