Bleacher Report Names Newcomer as Vikings' Most Overpaid Player

Did the Vikings overpay for Jonathan Greenard after a breakout season?

According to Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon, newly-signed edge rusher Jonathan Greenard is the Vikings' most overpaid player in 2024. The Vikings signed Greenard to a four-year, $76 million deal with $42 million guaranteed, choosing him to be their replacement for Danielle Hunter. The two edge rushers swapped teams in free agency, with Greenard going from the Texans to the Vikings and Hunter going from the Vikings to the Texans.

One can understand where Gagnon is coming from with that take. Greenard had one sack as a rookie, eight in his second season, 1.5 in 2022, and then 12.5 in his breakout 2023 campaign. The context is that he was a rotational player as a rookie and then missed much of his third year due to injury. His injury history does also present a bit of a risk for the Vikings, but it's not on the level of someone like Marcus Davenport last year.

Greenard is also more than just a one-year wonder. During the 2021 season, he had eight sacks, four passes defended, two forced fumbles, 27 pressures, and an 89.2 PFF pass rush grade on just over 400 defensive snaps. Even in his injury-marred 2022 season, he managed to finish with six tackles for loss and a pick-six. Greenard didn't come totally out of nowhere last year when he recorded 12.5 sacks, 48 pressures, and a 78.2 PFF grade.

Is there a chance that Greenard disappoints this year? Of course there is. He could get hurt or simply regress. But I'm optimistic about what he'll bring to the table in Minnesota if he's healthy. The idea that he won't be the same now that he isn't playing with Will Anderson Jr. in Houston feels foolish. Greenard is highly impressive on film, and he's joining players like Andrew Van Ginkel and Ivan Pace Jr. in a Brian Flores front that utilizes all kinds of creative pressure packages to get to the quarterback. Greenard will be 27 this season and feels like the kind of player who could continue ascending and have another big year.

Plus, only $42 million is guaranteed, so the Vikings could move on after two or three years if Greenard underperforms or struggles to stay on the field. On an AAV of $19 million per year that ranks 16th among NFL edge rushers, I don't think Greenard is particularly overpaid. But we'll find out this fall.

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