Jonathan Greenard’s move to Philadelphia has the look of a clean reset, and the Eagles are betting it turns into something much bigger than a simple bounce-back.
After a rough 2025 with the Minnesota Vikings, Greenard arrives in Philadelphia coming off a season that was easy to overlook on the surface. He finished with just three sacks, missed the end of the year because of an injury, and saw his production dip after posting 12 or more sacks in both 2023 and 2024. But the Eagles traded for him during the 2026 NFL Draft, then handed him a new contract extension, and that change of scenery is already drawing attention.
NFL.com writer Nick Shook included Greenard among players who should improve in the new season, and the case for a rebound is pretty straightforward. Greenard is stepping into a defense loaded with talent up front, with Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis inside and Nolan Smith rushing from the other side. He’ll also be working under Vic Fangio, which only adds to the appeal of the fit.
"Greenard’s inclusion might seem misplaced to those who already understand how good he is. At 29 years old, how much better can he get?
Well, after Greenard posted just three sacks in an injury-riddled 2025 campaign, Minnesota sent him packing for Philadelphia, where the Eagles were happy to welcome one of the most consistently underrated edge rushers in the NFL. Greenard’s third team in four seasons presents him with one of the best opportunities of his career.
He joins a front that includes Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, and he will rush opposite the incredibly athletic Nolan Smith. He’s playing for defensive mastermind Vic Fangio.
All of the ingredients are there for Greenard to produce a remarkable rebound season in a defense that saw Jaelan Phillips make a difference as a midseason acquisition and eventually cash in on a nine-figure deal with the Panthers. With all due respect to Phillips, Greenard is an upgrade.
You’ll see why this season."
Even with the down year, the numbers suggest Greenard didn’t suddenly lose his edge. Pro Football Focus gave him a 74.2 overall grade, which ranked 31st out of 115 eligible edge rushers, and his 77.6 pass-rush grade ranked 18th. He still generated 47 pressures and 35 hurries.
The run defense is where Greenard may end up mattering just as much for Philadelphia. PFF graded him at 77.8 against the run, good for 12th among edge rushers, and that matters for an Eagles defense that finished 22nd in the NFL against the run last season, allowing 124.4 yards per game.
Philadelphia should also have a healthy Jalen Carter back 100%, along with newly paid Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo at defensive tackle. That interior help gives Greenard a chance to make a real impact on the edges, where the Eagles need more than just pass-rush production.
Everyone talks about the A.J. Brown trade, but the move that could matter most for Philadelphia is the addition of Greenard. If it plays out the way the Eagles are hoping, it could be the kind of move that pushes them back into the Super Bowl conversation in 2026.
In Other News...
Howie Roseman May Have Already Nailed The Eagles Sneakiest Moves
The Eagles spent the offseason making the kind of quiet roster moves that can end up mattering just as much as the splashy ones. Johnny Mundt arrived as a free-agent tight end who should fit into the offenses blocking work, Uar Bernard came in as a seventh-round draft pick with an unusual athletic profile for a player his size, and the secondary also got a shake-up with Sydney Brown dealt to the Falcons and J.T. Gray added to help on special teams.
What makes the stretch especially interesting is how much of it points to Howie Roseman already thinking several steps ahead for 2026. Philadelphia did not just add depth and shuffle roles, it also made a major in-draft move for Jonathan Greenard that looks like the sort of bet teams make when they believe the fit and the contract can pay off in a big way. If the rest of these additions settle in the way the Eagles hope, this could end up looking like one of those offseason clusters that quietly changes the shape of a roster. [Read more 🡒]
Former Player Just Raised An Uncomfortable Question About Eagles New OL Coach
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For Philadelphia, the timing makes Kupers arrival especially notable. He steps into a job that has long been one of the most important on the roster, and the expectations are as high as ever with questions surrounding the groups durability and growth. The Eagles have built a reputation on line play, and now the pressure is on Kuper to keep that standard intact while proving he can get the most out of a unit with plenty still to sort out. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles May Suddenly Need More From Hollywood Brown Than Expected
Marquise Brown arrived in Philadelphia on a one-year deal with a clear job description: bring veteran steadiness to a receiver room that looks a lot different now. With Dontayvion Wicks added and Makai Lemon drafted, the Eagles have given themselves more bodies and more competition at the position, but Brown still stands out as the proven speed element in the passing game and a player who should be part of the initial roster.
What makes his role interesting is that the Eagles may need more than the usual field-stretching threat from him. Brown is expected to help open space for the rest of the offense, but if the younger receivers take time to settle in, his value could climb quickly beyond being just another depth piece. [Read more 🡒]