Minnesota Vikings can solve the Jonathan Greenard dillema with one simple move that solves it in multiple ways
It’s a very simple path that the Vikings should take immediately.
The trade rumors surrounding Minnesota Vikings edge rusher Jonathan Greenard are baffling on many levels, but they are real. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported over the weekend that the Philadelphia Eagles were in pursuit of Greenard, and that is something I can confirm.
It’s quite a wild sequence of events for the Vikings, as Greenard is the best player on Brian Flores’ elite defense. Moving on from your best player on defense for what is rumored to be a day two pick doesn’t make a ton of sense. The reason why makes sense, as Greenard reportedly wants a raise.
Vikings can easily fix the Jonathan Greenard dilemma
It’s not a secret that Greenard wants a raise, as he’s more than deserving of one. The real issue is that the Vikings have been adamant about Greenard playing on his original contract. He is due $19 million in cash with a base salary of $18.39 million, with $510k in per-game roster bonuses and $100k in a workout bonus. All of that adds up to a salary cap hit of $22.15 million.
It’s a significant cap hit for Greenard this year, and something the Vikings likely have considered restructuring to create cap space. They don’t need to do that, but they could easily make it work.
Don’t necessarily give him a pay raise, give Greenard an extension.
After the first day of free agency, Greenard is now the 20th-highest-paid edge rusher in the NFL on an average annual value basis. He’s behind Josh Sweat, Boye Mafe, George Karlaftis, and teammate Andrew Van Ginkel.
The 10th-highest paid edge rusher is Brian Burns at $28.2 million and 11th is Nik Bonitto at $26.5 million. If you extend Greenard by two years at $34 million AAV, which would tie Nick Bosa for the seventh-highest paid pass rusher, the next four seasons would be the same as Bonitto’s AAV.
Making Greenard the 11th-highest paid pass rusher makes all the sense in the world based on his talent and ability. Plus, the Vikings could drop this season’s salary cap hit significantly. With him being a key player on defense, it should be a no-brainer, and it’s a way to get around giving him a “payraise,” as the Vikings get two more seasons of team control in their pocket.
It’s a simple move the Vikings should make, but they likely won’t.
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