NFL News Vikings to move LB Jonathan Greenard - Should Patriots be interested?

[VJCPatriot]

Very recent news. Vikings expected to move talented linebacker Jonathan Greenard just before the draft in a cap firesale.

The 28 year old 6'3 259 lb Edge player has posted 12.5, 12, and 3 sacks over the past 3 seasons.

If he returns to form the Patriots could pick up a double digit pass rusher. How much would he cost and should we be interested in signing him?

Source:

MSN

Highlights reel:

 

[DarrylS]

Before commenting would like to know why he only had 3 sacks last year...
Health, scheme or lost his passion for the game???

 

[Zuma]

Before commenting would like to know why he only had 3 sacks last year...
Health, scheme or lost his passion for the game???

Some AI stuff...

Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard will miss the remainder of the 2025 season to undergo surgery on a left shoulder injury, head coach Kevin O'Connell announced. He re-aggravated the injury in Week 15 against Dallas after managing it since Week 10. Greenard is expected to be at full strength for the 2026 season.

 

[Sciz]

This is another bad AI article loosely based on Bill Barnwell's annual mock draft of trades. Nothing has really changed in the last month with Greenard. Most of the appeal of a trade disappears when a player is demanding a big raise in addition to the trade compensation given up to get him.

2026 NFL mock draft with all trades: Deals for Round 1 picks

We proposed 32 trades to shake up Round 1 -- one at every slot -- including deals that involve J.J. McCarthy and Maxx Crosby.

www.espn.com

(The two Pats mentions are a trade up to 24th to jump other teams looking for WRs and letting the Jets vastly overpay to get the 5th year option at 31 rather than no 5th year option at 33.)

 

[VJCPatriot]

Before commenting would like to know why he only had 3 sacks last year...
Health, scheme or lost his passion for the game???

Looks like a shoulder injury slowed him down.

 

[patfanken]

Sounds like the injury only cost him 3 games when it finally tore. The key to me would be when he initially GOT the injury and how long he was playing with it. Sounds like this is much like the HLandry situation. Being a good soldier can affect your individual stats, so if he got it sometime halfway through the season I'd look closely at a deal. Of course, it would all depend on the compensation.

I'd given them one of the 4ths, but any more than that. This is a salary dump. Let's treat it like one and take advantage. We have the need. We are out of their conference, and he goes to a contending team.

 

[n1997y]

I’d grab him, at a reasonable trade price. Give him a thorough physical to ensure they’re not dumping him because of his salary not because they know he’s still damaged goods. His contract has three years left, two real plus void year, but from Spotrac it looks like only $4mm of 2026 is guaranteed. So he’d not be expensive to cut if he’s not recovered.

I’m thinking we need to upgrade edge, we’re even talking about using pick 31 for that. If we can get him for much less than #31 it’s a real good deal. Fourth sounds good, and I’d give even more. Considering all that maybe 4th and 2027 6th (we’ve got lots of those!) or even 2026 6th?

 

[n1997y]

I'd given them one of the 4ths, but any more than that. This is a salary dump. Let's treat it like one and take advantage. We have the need. We are out of their conference, and he goes to a contending team.

Agree, and it’s a position of high need. We’ve been talking about spending pick #31 drafting an edge. He’s 28, will be 29 when camp opens, so if fully recovered and healthy we could get an established performer still in his prime for several more years.

We are awash in sixth round picks this year and next. I think this would be a good use for one or even two of them. A 4th and 6th this year and a 6th in 2027 seems fairly rich, but if it’s a choice between that or spending #31 on an unproven rookie edge prospect which is the better use of resources?

 

[Pape]

Hes worked with Flores, so maybe he knows how new england handles business... Pair the third with some of the extra 6's?

 

[TommyD4207]

He would immediately become the best LB on the roster.
Yes, they should be interested.

 

[DaBruinz]

No. Greenard is a miss-tackle machine.. He's missed 25-27% of his tackles each of the last 4 years.. I'd rather get a youngster with the pick.

 

[ViperGTS]

They need LB help for sure. I'm all for it. Be an upgrade and slots everyone down a spot.

 

[DaBruinz]

They need LB help for sure. I'm all for it. Be an upgrade and slots everyone down a spot.

How do you figure that a guy who misses 25-27% of his tackles is an upgrade?? Not to mention he's looking for a contract in the $19M range....

Help me understand your thought process on this..

 

[n1997y]

How do you figure that a guy who misses 25-27% of his tackles is an upgrade?? Not to mention he's looking for a contract in the $19M range....

Help me understand your thought process on this..

How many tackles does he make?

Is that more than the player he’d replace?

If it is he’s an upgrade. Whether he’s worth the asking price is a different question.

 

[TheRainMaker]

He's one of the many hit or miss players that might get you 10+ sacks one year, but revert a year later to 3 sacks. He also doesn't have great health history only playing at least 15 games twice in his 6 year career.

 

[Real fan 02]

Very recent news. Vikings expected to move talented linebacker Jonathan Greenard just before the draft in a cap firesale.

The 28 year old 6'3 259 lb Edge player has posted 12.5, 12, and 3 sacks over the past 3 seasons.

If he returns to form the Patriots could pick up a double digit pass rusher. How much would he cost and should we be interested in signing him?

Source:

MSN

Highlights reel:

Feel like this is good move for us provided he is moved. Maybe a 4th round pick? On this roster right now he and Jones would be the starting edge rushers!

 

[Real fan 02]

He's one of the many hit or miss players that might get you 10+ sacks one year, but revert a year later to 3 sacks. He also doesn't have great health history only playing at least 15 games twice in his 6 year career.

Prior to the draft, trades continual signins.. if he were on this roster right now.. he and Jones would be the starters at edge. Tells you exactly where the position has been the past few seasons apart from judon and the flash in the pan uche...

 

[DaBruinz]

How many tackles does he make?

Is that more than the player he’d replace?

If it is he’s an upgrade. Whether he’s worth the asking price is a different question.

Greenard had 38 total tackler and 11 misses. He'd be pushing either Landry or Jones to the bench. Landry had 49 tackles and 4 misses. Dre'Mont Jones had 43 tackles and 3 Misses. Elijah Ponder had 24 tackles and 1 miss, btw.

So, again, how is he an upgrade?

 

[n1997y]

Greenard had 38 total tackler and 11 misses. He'd be pushing either Landry or Jones to the bench. Landry had 49 tackles and 4 misses. Dre'Mont Jones had 43 tackles and 3 Misses. Elijah Ponder had 24 tackles and 1 miss, btw.

So, again, how is he an upgrade?

I’m not saying whether he’s an upgrade or not. Just saying misses don’t count. You asked how he would be an upgrade and I answered he’d be an upgrade if he made more tackles than the other guys.

Counting missed tackles is counting the wrong thing. It’s like the error of putting armor on where planes coming back from combat were shot, instead of putting armor where they didn’t come back if they were shot:


Really, if he misses a lot of tackles he’s getting in position to attempt a tackle which could itself be an upgrade, so why not teach him to tackle better?

 

[Huckleberry1]

How do you figure that a guy who misses 25-27% of his tackles is an upgrade?? Not to mention he's looking for a contract in the $19M range....

Help me understand your thought process on this..

I think his contract is already 19 million and he wants more. I would pass. There are some good off the ball linebackers available in this draft.