'Minimal' Contact From Texans Led To Jonathan Greenard Signing With Vikings
Jonathan Greenard may have wanted to continue his career with the Houston Texans.
However, things still worked out in his favor, with the former Texan earning a massive payday after signing a three-year, $72.0 million deal to join the Minnesota Vikings.
And according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC, Houston was never actually a factor, with Greenard revealing that there wasn't an "official offer" from the Texans.
“To my knowledge, there wasn't an official offer from the Texans,” Greenard said to Wilson. “There was minimal conversation and we've all moved on. No hard feelings.”
Former Texans' defensive end Jonathan Greenard following postseason defeat to the Baltimore Ravens
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Houston replaced Greenard's talents on the defensive front with the acquisition of Danielle Hunter. The All-Pro pass rusher joined the Texans on a deal worth $49 million, $48 million guaranteed, ending his eight-year tenure with the Vikings.
Greenard entered free agency as one of the top pass rushers on the market. He came coming off a season where he played 15 games and recorded a career-best 12.5 sacks, 52 tackles and 22 quarterback hits during the 2023 season.
He also played a prominent role in the Texans' revamped run defense. According to Pro Football Focus, Greenard notched a run-defensive grade of 67.2, while the Texans gave up an average of 96.6 yards on the ground.
Greenard entered the league as the Texans' third-round pick (No. 90 overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft. He has been a staple of Houston's defensive front over the previous four years, recording 41 quarterback hits and 23.0 sacks across 48 games.
"J.G. did a good job for us. He was very productive, his play was physical," coach DeMeco Ryans said. "He did the things we asked him to do. We'll see where free agency plays out, but we love JG. We loved what he did for us this year."
