It’s no secret that the Dallas Cowboys are desperate for pass-rush help. Nearly their entire defensive end room is poised to hit free agency, and Donovan Ezeiruaku, the only key returner, could miss the entire offseason program after labrum surgery.
They'll continue to be linked to Maxx Crosby until that saga resolves itself, and the free agent market offers a lot of potential solutions. Not to mention, Dallas could justify drafting an edge with either of its two first-round picks.
If a Crosby trade doesn’t materialize, the Cowboys suddenly have an intriguing pivot. ESPN insider Adam Schefter reported that the Minnesota Vikings are open to trading Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Greenard as they navigate salary cap hurdles.
It just so happens that Greenard's defensive line coach in Minnesota, Marcus Dixon, now has that same title with the Cowboys, presenting a potential upper hand for the Dallas front office.
Vikings are now open to trading Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Geeenard, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 3, 2026
They would like to keep Greenard, but they also have salary cap issues they’re working through that have led to these trade conversations. pic.twitter.com/kLRO73aFOz
The Dallas Cowboys should consider a trade for Vikings OLB Jonathan Greenard
Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Vikings want a Day 2 pick for Greenard. That's problematic, as the Cowboys don't have a second or third-round pick this year.
However, just because Minnesota has set an asking price doesn’t mean they’ll get it. The Raiders reportedly want a Micah Parsons-level haul for Maxx Crosby, who is multiple years older than Parsons. Initial asking prices in the NFL rarely hold once negotiations unfold.
Greenard has flown under the radar despite being one of the more consistent edge rushers in the NFL. Over the last three seasons, he's registered a 77.6 pass-rush grade and a 71.7 run-defense grade from Pro Football Focus. That included ranking third among edge defenders with 80 pressures in 2024, which was his first season under the aforementioned Dixon.
Shoulder surgery ended his 2025 season prematurely, but he still ranked No. 7 in the league with a 13.5 percent pressure rate, per ESPN.
The Vikings likely want to move quickly here, as $4 million of Greenard's base salary becomes fully guaranteed if he's still on the roster on the fifth day of the new league year. With an $18.3 million base salary in 2026, any acquiring team (looking at you, Dallas) would certainly look to restructure the deal.
Once the Cowboys restructure Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Tyler Smith -- and potentially a few other deals -- they’ll create significant cap flexibility.
Trading for Greenard would not only fill one of the roster’s biggest holes but also give Christian Parker an ideal outside linebacker for his 3-4 scheme. His familiarity with Dixon could give Dallas an edge that very few teams can match.