The Philadelphia Eagles pulled off a blockbuster trade during Day 2 of the NFL Draft, sending this year's No. 98 pick and a 2027 third-rounder to Minnesota in exchange for stout pass-rusher Jonathan Grennard.
Greenard, who turns 29 next month, also received a four-year, $100 million contract extension from Philly following the trade. After the Eagles got outbid for Jaelan Phillips in free agency, they were in need of another premier edge-rusher to play alongside Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith. Greenard fits the bill.
Let's take a look at how analysts graded this deal.
The veteran edge rusher immediately fills a need for Philadelphia, which needed more pass-rushing juice from the outside. Greenard is coming off an injury-shortened 2025 campaign in which he recorded only three sacks in 12 games. But Greenard still delivered on a down-to-down basis last season, with a 23.3% pass rush win rate at edge that would have ranked fourth at the position had he played enough to qualify. And that followed a 2024 season in which Greenard recorded 12 sacks and ranked 10th in pass rush win rate at edge. He ranked in the top 10 in PRWR in 2023 with Houston, too.
The Eagles needed to add someone to their pass-rushing group in the aftermath of losing Phillips in free agency. Philly had the No. 1-ranked scoring defense in the NFL after acquiring Phillips at the deadline last season, so it was a significant hole they needed to fill once he signed with Carolina. Greenard gives them that type of high-level pass rusher, and it comes at a relatively cheap cost in terms of compensation.
As for the extension, Greenard playing on a $25 million average annual salary is a borderline bargain. While his sack totals were lower last season, he still led the Vikings with 47 pressures last season, so he is a difference- maker off the edge. This feels like another example of Howie Roseman playing chess while the rest of the league plays checkers.
This was the home run move the Eagles were looking to make on draft night, using the benefit of having the extra third-round pick to their advantage. Greenard immediately becomes the top pass rusher in the Eagles defense, as his 16.7% pressure rate over the last two seasons is seventh in the NFL (minimum 500 pass rushing snaps). His 121 pressures in that span are tied for 11th in the NFL and 34 quarterback hits are tied for 28th.
Greenard is an explosive edge rusher who will be a nice replacement for Phillips. The only potential downside is that he turns 29 in May, so the Eagles will only have him for one year in his 20s. Greenard should still have a few great seasons for the Eagles, and I’ll be shocked if Philadelphia ends up regretting this trade.
Jonathan Greenard gets a sack against his former team 😤📺: #HOUvsMIN on CBS/Paramount+📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/xx4h2iNMyB
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: NFL Draft Trade Grades: Eagles receive high marks for landing Jonathan Greenard