ESPN Runs with New Jonathan Greenard Trade

Each offseason, the Minnesota Vikings usually have at least one player heavy in the NFL’s trade rumor mill, and since early March, Jonathan Greenard 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’s a new trade theory, this time linking Greenard to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Minnesota could cash out for draft capital, though moving its top edge rusher would create a major hole.

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.

A Greenard-to-Chiefs Trade Would Force a Massive Vikings Pivot

Greenard to the Chiefs? It could work, apparently.

The ESPN Proposal for Greenard to KC

Examining the draft, Bill Barnwell sized up a trade apiece for each team, landing on Greenard to Kansas City with Andy Reid’s team.

Barnwell explained, “Chiefs 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 — 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.”

“The 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’s 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, who filled in for Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel when they were hurt last season.”

The Vikings haven’t picked as high as No. 9 in a draft since 2014 when they netted linebacker Anthony Barr.

Who’s Felix Anudike-Uzomah?

Anudike-Uzomah joined the Chiefs in Round 1 three years ago — 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, and the deadline is three weeks away.

The Kansas State alumnus missed all of 2025 with a hamstring injury and wasn’t very productive before that season. He’s appeared in 34 games, starting only 3, and has logged 3 sacks, 14 quarterback hits, and 8 tackles for loss.

Here’s his miniature Pro Football Focus resume:

• 2025: DNP
• 2024: 61.2
• 2023: 53.4

Anudike-Uzomah especially struggles with tackling.

Fair or Unfair Deal?

The deal would be fair for the Vikings if the beholder still believes in Anudike-Uzomah. If he’s a dud, all bets are off.

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’ 3rd-Rounder from the deal, the scale roughly evens out.

A better deal for Minnesota, if Kansas City is flexible, might look like this:

Barnwell added about his trade idea, “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.”

“Greenard 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.”

The Vikings’ Would-Be Plans at No. 9

So, just what in the world would the Vikings do with Pick No. 9? It’s a rim-rattling trade, meaning there would have to be a target of purple affection.

At that spot, Minnesota would presumably target one of these players:

• Mansoor Delane (CB, LSU)
• Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame)
• Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State)

Delane may not be that much of a slam-dunk prospect to trade Greenard. It’s 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’t considered overly important anymore.

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 — similar to running back — is not often referred to as a premium one.

The NFL draft is 24 days away. It’s also worth noting that the Vikings could simply keep Greenard and pay him.