Free agency is here, with the legal tampering period having started at noon on Monday. As a result, a plethora of players are on the move, including former Houston Texans pass rusher Jonathan Greenard, who agreed to a big deal with the Minnesota Vikings.
A Look at Jonathan Greenard’s Contract Details
Less than an hour after the legal tampering opened up, Adam Schefter reported that the former Texans edge rusher was joining the Vikings on a brand-new four-year deal.
At 26 years old, the deal should lock Greenard up until he’s 30. Here’s everything we know about the deal:
- $76 million total ($19 million per year)
- $42 million guaranteed
The deal puts Greenard just on the outside range of the top-10 highest-paid edge rushers in 14th. Von Miller is 10th, making $20 million per year, while Nick Bosa is the highest, making $34 million on average on a five-year, $170 million deal. However, Greenard’s guaranteed money is the sixth-highest total guarantee for an edge.
Greenard is the first major move the Vikings have made this offseason. The only other move they’d made so far was re-signing tight end Johnny Mundt.
Significance of Greenard Joining the Vikings
With Greenard joining such a large free agency class, he was ranked as the sixth-best option by PFN. He fell behind Josh Allen, Brian Burns, Danielle Hunter, Chase Young, and Bryce Huff. Nevertheless, Greenard was ranked ahead of Jadeveon Clowney, Za’Darius Smith, Josh Uche, and Andrew Van Ginkel.
Signing Greenard signals the end of Hunter’s time in Minnesota, as the two couldn’t come to terms on a new deal over the last couple of years. With Hunter likely leaving, signing another big-time edge rusher was imperative for Minnesota.
Greenard was a third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft after spending his college career with Lousiville and Florida. He’s had 120 career tackles, 23 sacks, three forced fumbles, eight pass deflections, one interception, and one touchdown.
Greenard’s career started slow, with him notching just 10.5 sacks in his first three years (in part from rotating positions each year), but he broke out in 2023. Last season, he had 52 tackles, 12.5 sacks, and 15 tackles for loss.
While Greenard is a younger replacement for Hunter, who is 29 and will turn 30 during the 2024 season, he doesn’t replace his production as much. In eight seasons with the Vikings, Hunter had 462 tackles, 87.5 sacks, 108 tackles for loss, and 11 forced fumbles.
KEEP READING: 2024 NFL Free Agents by Position
In 2023 alone, Hunter had 83 tackles, 16.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and a league-leading 23 tackles for loss. He’s a four-time Pro Bowler and a one-time second-team All-Pro.
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