Vikings Urged to Keep Veteran Edge Rusher Jonathan Greenard

ESPN analyst and The Athletic reporter advise Minnesota to retain the productive pass-rusher ahead of 2026 NFL Draft.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 3:19am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting an anonymous Vikings edge rusher in the midst of a powerful pass rush, with sharp, overlapping planes of deep purple, gold, and steel grey conveying the intensity of the action.A cubist interpretation of a Minnesota Vikings edge defender's explosive pass rush, capturing the raw energy and angular momentum of the game.Minnesota City Today

The Minnesota Vikings are facing a decision on the future of veteran edge defender Jonathan Greenard ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. While there has been speculation about potentially trading Greenard, both ESPN analyst Louis Riddick and The Athletic's Alec Lewis have urged the Vikings to keep the productive pass-rusher on their roster for the upcoming season.

Why it matters

Greenard had a strong 2025 season, ranking among the top edge defenders in several key metrics. Retaining him would provide stability and insurance for the Vikings' defensive front, especially with the continued development of fellow edge rusher Dallas Turner.

The details

In 2025, Greenard posted a 74.2 overall defensive grade from PFF, placing 31st out of 115 qualified edge defenders. His pass-rush grade came in at 77.6, good for 18th, while his 77.8 run-defense grade ranked 12th at the position. He finished the year with 47 total pressures, including four sacks, 35 hurries, and eight hits. Greenard also recorded 24 solo tackles and forced one fumble.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 23.

The players

Jonathan Greenard

A veteran edge defender for the Minnesota Vikings who had a strong 2025 season, ranking among the top edge rushers in several key metrics.

Dallas Turner

A young edge rusher for the Minnesota Vikings who had a breakout 2025 season, recording eight sacks.

Jalen Redmond

A defensive lineman for the Minnesota Vikings who is currently the only other reliable defensive lineman on the team besides Greenard and Turner.

Kevin O'Connell

The head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, who has stated that he expects Greenard to be part of the team's roster for the upcoming season.

Louis Riddick

An ESPN NFL analyst who has advised the Vikings to keep Greenard rather than trade him away.

Alec Lewis

A reporter for The Athletic who has also urged the Vikings to retain Greenard, citing his importance to the team's defense.

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What they’re saying

“When you have guys like Jonathan and Dallas [Turner] and Andrew [Van Ginkel], those are guys who you can kind of get drawn into, like playing this kind of fantasy football type of scenario a little bit too much when you're talking about trading guys away who play premium positions who have the kind of game-changing ability like Jonathan has, like Dallas Turner has.”

— Louis Riddick, ESPN NFL Analyst

“I don't think they should trade Jonathan Greenard unless they can get a first-round pick, which I don't expect them to land. The sack production in 2025 is what it is, but when you dig into the advanced metrics and the film, it tells a better story. His pass rush win rate, quick pressure rate and run stop rate all improved compared to 2024.”

— Alec Lewis, Reporter

What’s next

Head coach Kevin O'Connell has stated that he expects Greenard to be part of the Vikings' roster for the upcoming 2026 season, indicating the team plans to keep the veteran edge rusher.

The takeaway

The Vikings appear poised to retain Jonathan Greenard, a productive edge defender who provides stability and insurance for their defensive front. Keeping Greenard aligns with the team's goal of competing in 2026, as his advanced metrics and overall impact suggest he is too valuable to trade away unless a premium offer arises.