The Philadelphia Eagles used the offseason to reshape the roster after a wild-card departure from the playoffs. The most talked-about move was the decision to trade A.J. Brown and the choice to nab Makai Lemon with their first-round pick.
With the focus being on the offensive end, the Eagles' addition of defensive end Jonathan Greenard is going under the radar. Back in April, Philadelphia shipped two third-round picks to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for Greenard. They also agreed on a four-year, $100 million extension, with $50 million guaranteed.
That was a fantastic pivot for Philadelphia, especially after Jaelan Phillips left to sign with the Carolina Panthers on a four-year, $120 million deal in free agency. Phillips is getting $30 million annually; meanwhile, the Eagles are paying Greenard $25 million per season.
Not only did they save some money, but they are likely set to receive a third-round compensatory pick next year per OverTheCap.com. So they really only gave up one pick to land Greenard.
Eagles move for Jonathan Greenard is an offseason win nobody is talking about
Greenard dealt with a shoulder injury that limited him to just 12 games in 2025, yet the two seasons prior, Greenard was a true difference-maker along the Vikings' defensive line. He was someone who was able to consistently get into the backfield to generate pressure.
Season | Total Pressures | Hurries | QB Hits | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | 48 | 24 | 22 | 12.5 |
2024 | 80 | 59 | 22 | 12.0 |
Through 77 career games (59 starts) with the Texans and Vikings, Greenard has logged 217 total tackles, 60 TFLs, 75 QB hits, 38 sacks, and eight forced fumbles. It's no secret that he's had plenty of success as a pass rusher, but this move hasn't been discussed much around the Eagles.
The Eagles knew they needed more juice off the edge, which is why they traded for Phillips in the first place. And during his eight-game stretch with Philadelphia, Phillips had seven QB hits, two sacks, and 41 pressures. He made his presence known, but when you take a look at his career numbers compared to Greenard, he hasn't been as productive. Phillips has 28 sacks, two forced fumbles, and 68 QB hits in 63 career games.
The Eagles felt they were getting a better bang for their buck with the decision to pay Greenard, and from his resume, that isn't a bad choice at all. They are getting a proven veteran at a position of need. In addition, Greenard hasn't been discussed much when speaking about the Eagles, and that's exactly what they want.
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He will fly under the radar until the season starts, and when he produces as he did at his previous stops, Howie Roseman will be called a genius once again.
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