{"id":858043,"date":"2026-04-07T03:10:23","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T03:10:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/858043\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T03:10:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T03:10:23","slug":"espn-runs-with-new-jonathan-greenard-trade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/858043\/","title":{"rendered":"ESPN Runs with New Jonathan Greenard Trade"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"JonathanJonathan Greenard addresses reporters following an international matchup, reflecting on Minnesota\u2019s performance on a global stage in front of a packed Dublin crowd. The moment occurred on Sep 28, 2025; Dublin, Ireland; after the Vikings faced the Steelers at Croke Park, highlighting Greenard\u2019s visibility as a defensive leader in a high-profile setting. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Each offseason, the Minnesota Vikings usually have at least one player heavy in the NFL\u2019s trade rumor mill, and since early March, Jonathan Greenard<\/a> has filled the role. Greenard wants a new contract, and if Minnesota cannot afford his asking price, he could be shipped elsewhere this spring or summer. Thanks to ESPN, there\u2019s a new trade theory, this time linking Greenard to the Kansas City Chiefs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Minnesota could cash out for draft capital, though moving its top edge rusher would create a major hole.<\/p>\n

Most Vikings fans would rather retain Greenard, but for a fair price, Minnesota may be able to draft a younger outside linebacker and reset the clock.<\/p>\n

A Greenard-to-Chiefs Trade Would Force a Massive Vikings Pivot<\/p>\n

Greenard to the Chiefs? It could work, apparently. <\/p>\n

\"AndyAndy Reid watches from the sideline during first-half action, overseeing Kansas City\u2019s offense in a divisional matchup at Arrowhead Stadium. The moment came on Nov 29, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; as the Chiefs faced the Raiders, capturing Reid\u2019s in-game focus while managing personnel and play-calling responsibilities. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The ESPN Proposal for Greenard to KC<\/p>\n

Examining the draft, Bill Barnwell sized up a trade apiece for each team, landing on Greenard to Kansas City with Andy Reid\u2019s team.<\/p>\n

Barnwell explained<\/a>, \u201cChiefs get: 1-18, 3-97, Edge Jonathan Greenard. Vikings get: 1-9, Edge Felix Anudike-Uzomah. This trade would value the difference between Greenard and Anudike-Uzomah \u2014 a former first-round pick who hasn\u2019t impressed with the Chiefs \u2014 as being worth the 54th pick, according to the Johnson chart, in a typical draft.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Vikings would move up from No. 18 to No. 9 and put defensive coordinator Brian Flores in line to add one of the premier defensive backs in this year\u2019s class. The idea of Downs in a Flores defense is tantalizing, but the Vikings could also go for LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane here. Trading Greenard would open cap space and create a spot in the starting lineup for Dallas Turner<\/a>, who filled in for Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel when they were hurt last season.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Vikings haven\u2019t picked as high as No. 9 in a draft since 2014 when they netted linebacker Anthony Barr.<\/p>\n

Who\u2019s Felix Anudike-Uzomah?<\/p>\n

Anudike-Uzomah joined the Chiefs in Round 1 three years ago \u2014 the same night that Jordan Addison became a Viking. To date, he has not wholly lived up to expectations. The Chiefs have not exercised his fifth-year contractual option<\/a>, and the deadline is three weeks away.<\/p>\n

\"FelixFelix Anudike-Uzomah walks off the field following game action, reflecting on Kansas City\u2019s preseason contest as players wrapped up responsibilities at Arrowhead Stadium. The scene occurred on Aug 22, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; after a matchup with the Bears, highlighting the young defender\u2019s presence during postgame moments. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n

The Kansas State alumnus missed all of 2025 with a hamstring injury and wasn\u2019t very productive before that season. He\u2019s appeared in 34 games, starting only 3, and has logged 3 sacks, 14 quarterback hits, and 8 tackles for loss.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s his miniature Pro Football Focus<\/a> resume:<\/p>\n

2025: DNP<\/p>\n

2024: 61.2<\/p>\n

2023: 53.4<\/p>\n

Anudike-Uzomah especially struggles with tackling.<\/p>\n

Fair or Unfair Deal?<\/p>\n

The deal would be fair for the Vikings if the beholder still believes in Anudike-Uzomah. If he\u2019s a dud, all bets are off.<\/p>\n

Still, trading from No. 18 to No. 9 is the equivalent of the 45th overall pick in the draft, also known as a mid-2nd-Rounder. If one subtracts Anudike-Uzomah and the Vikings\u2019 3rd-Rounder<\/a> from the deal, the scale roughly evens out.<\/p>\n

A better deal for Minnesota, if Kansas City is flexible, might look like this:<\/p>\n

Vikings Get \u2014
Pick No. 9
Pick No. 109 (R4)<\/p>\n

Chiefs Get \u2014
Pick No. 18
Jonathan Greenard
Pick No. 163 (R5)<\/p>\n

Barnwell added about his trade idea, \u201cOne 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGreenard will turn 29 in May, so he should still have a couple of years of impactful pass rushing before the Chiefs would need to worry about moving on. Greenard has two years and $37.9 million remaining on his deal, and though Brett Veach & Co. would have to address that contract with a meaningful raise, Greenard could still be an easily justifiable addition for the Chiefs, given their perennial role as Super Bowl contenders.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Vikings\u2019 Would-Be Plans at No. 9<\/p>\n

So, just what in the world would the Vikings do with Pick No. 9? It\u2019s a rim-rattling trade<\/a>, meaning there would have to be a target of purple affection.<\/p>\n

\"JonathanJonathan Greenard lines up before the snap, preparing to rush the passer as Minnesota\u2019s defense engages in postseason action under the lights. The moment unfolded on Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; during a Wild Card matchup with the Rams at State Farm Stadium, capturing Greenard\u2019s readiness in a high-stakes playoff environment. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

At that spot, Minnesota would presumably target one of these players:<\/p>\n

Mansoor Delane (CB, LSU)<\/p>\n

Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame)<\/p>\n

Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State)<\/p>\n

Delane may not be that much of a slam-dunk prospect to trade Greenard. It\u2019s debateable. Love, on the other hand, is considered a Top 2 or Top 3 player in the draft, only driven down the board by his position: running backs aren\u2019t considered overly important anymore.<\/p>\n

Downs would be worth the squeeze, but a general manager must ask himself if trading Greenard for a safety is worth it. The safety position \u2014 similar to running back \u2014 is not often referred to as a premium one. <\/p>\n

The NFL draft is 24 days away. It\u2019s also worth noting that the Vikings could simply keep Greenard and pay him.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"avatar\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Jonathan Greenard addresses reporters following an international matchup, reflecting on Minnesota\u2019s performance on a global stage in front…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":858044,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2063],"tags":[346,7,118,110,2438,2437,6],"class_list":{"0":"post-858043","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-kansas-city-chiefs","8":"tag-chiefs","9":"tag-football","10":"tag-kansas-city","11":"tag-kansas-city-chiefs","12":"tag-kansascity","13":"tag-kansascitychiefs","14":"tag-nfl"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116361235265800057","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/858043","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=858043"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/858043\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/858044"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=858043"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=858043"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=858043"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}