Jonathan Greenard may not have been the Eagles’ first swing this offseason, but he’s the one who landed in Philly - and he arrives with a clear chance to matter a lot in 2026.
The Eagles spent the early part of the offseason trying to keep Jaelan Phillips, only to watch Carolina outbid them. They also showed interest in other prominent free agents before eventually making a draft-time trade for Greenard and locking him in with a four-year, $98 million extension. That move put Greenard squarely in position to be the most important edge rusher on the roster next season.
The fit makes sense on paper, even if Greenard’s 2025 numbers don’t jump off the page. He had only 3 sacks in 12 games for Minnesota, and his year ended early after a shoulder injury that required surgery. But the broader resume is still loud: 12 1/2 sacks in 2023 and 12 more in 2024.
“Having 12 and 12 and then obviously had the down year, that was not up to my standard by any means,” Greenard said after being traded to Philly. “I'm coming for more. I'm definitely trying to get back to that point of double digits to where I can affect the game."
“And obviously it's not necessarily all about me getting back to double digits. It's more so how can we affect the quarterback?
If I get the quarterback down, cool. Everybody knows that's the intention.
That's the goal and the mindset as soon as that ball is snapped. But if somebody else, let's say Nolan or JC (Jalen Carter) or JD (Jordan Davis) gets it, I'm more than happy.
It's the same. As long as we affect in the game, I promise you we're gonna be in a good spot.”
Even with the sack total dipping last season, Greenard’s pressure production stayed strong. According to NextGen Stats, his pressure rate over the last three years has looked like this:
2025: 15.4%
2024: 13.4%
2023: 16.0%
This spring, Greenard was kept out of team drills while he works back from that December shoulder surgery, but he called that a precaution and expects to be ready when training camp opens.
That matters because the Eagles are counting on him to headline the edge group in 2026. Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith, who checked in at Nos. 17 and 18 on this list, are still part of the picture, but Greenard is the one expected to lead the rotation.
He’s also eager to work under Vic Fangio, and he made it clear he likes the challenge of being deployed by one of the league’s sharper defensive minds.
“Vic, we all know, is a mastermind with calling plays and scheming things up and also just knowing when to let it fly and playing normal rush four,” Greenard said. “I feel like I’ll be a great addition to this because I don’t know how he’s going to draw it up.
That’s the exciting part about it. I know when it is drawn up, it’s going to be something serious and we’re going to be a force to be reckoned with.
Anyway I can be disruptive, bring that relentless motor here and continue to do what I’ve been doing, I’ll fit right in.”
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