Chiefs Predicted to Trade for $37.9 Million Defensive Star with No. 9 Pick

ESPN's Bill Barnwell suggests a bold move that would send the Vikings' Jonathan Greenard to Kansas City.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 12:21pm

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The Kansas City Chiefs, holding the No. 9 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, are predicted to make a trade with the Minnesota Vikings that would send veteran edge rusher Jonathan Greenard to Kansas City in exchange for the No. 9 pick and Chiefs' edge Felix Anudike-Uzomah. The proposed deal would give the Chiefs an immediate impact pass rusher in Greenard, who had 12 sacks and 22 knockdowns in 2024 before an injury-plagued 2025 season.

Why it matters

The Chiefs are perennial Super Bowl contenders and could use an upgrade at edge rusher. Greenard, with two years and $37.9 million left on his contract, would provide an immediate boost to their defense if they can work out a contract extension. For the Vikings, the trade would allow them to move on from Greenard and potentially draft a younger defensive impact player with the No. 9 pick.

The details

The proposed trade would send Greenard, the Vikings' 3rd-round pick (No. 97), and the Vikings' 1st-round pick (No. 18) to the Chiefs in exchange for the Chiefs' 1st-round pick (No. 9) and edge rusher Felix Anudike-Uzomah. The Chiefs would then likely use the No. 18 pick to address their cornerback needs.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 24-26, 2026.

The players

Jonathan Greenard

A 29-year-old edge rusher for the Minnesota Vikings who had 12 sacks and 22 knockdowns in 2024 before an injury-plagued 2025 season.

Felix Anudike-Uzomah

A young edge rusher for the Kansas City Chiefs who has not yet lived up to his potential as a former first-round pick.

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What they’re saying

“The Chiefs would love to come out of this draft with an impact edge rusher. They might be just a tad too low to land that player at No. 9 if the board goes as expected. One other way to address that need would be to add a star in Greenard, who racked up 12 sacks and 22 knockdowns with the Vikings in 2024 before injuries wrecked his 2025 campaign.”

— Bill Barnwell, ESPN Analyst

“For the Vikings, they move on from Greenard and potentially can draft a younger defensive impact player for DC Brian Flores with the ninth pick. This trade would value the difference between Greenard and Anudike-Uzomah -- a former first-round pick who hasn't impressed with the Chiefs -- as being worth the 54th pick, according to the Johnson chart, in a typical draft.”

— Bill Barnwell, ESPN Analyst

What’s next

The proposed trade would need to be agreed upon by the Chiefs and Vikings front offices before the 2026 NFL Draft. If the deal goes through, the Chiefs would then need to work out a contract extension with Greenard to keep him in Kansas City beyond the two years remaining on his current deal.

The takeaway

This hypothetical trade would be a bold move by the Chiefs to acquire a proven pass rusher in Greenard to bolster their defense, while the Vikings would gain additional draft capital and the opportunity to select a younger defensive talent with the No. 9 overall pick.