The Jonathan Greenard Trade Sparked a New Vikings Theory
On Friday, April 24th, the Minnesota Vikings offloaded outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard and a 7th-Round pick, sending the package to the Philadelphia Eagles for two 3rd-Rounders. Two weeks later, the team’s fans claim newly signed wide receiver Jauan Jennings is a part of the deal by default.
Minnesota’s Greenard deal may have created a wider payoff than expected.
The Vikings signed Jennings last Thursday, and because the club freed up cap space with the Greenard trade, the working theory is that Jennings is indeed part of the trade.
Jennings Gives Kevin O’Connell the Insurance Piece He Needed
Do you include Jennings in the Greenard trade fallout?
The New Way to Spin It
SKOR North‘s Thor Nystrom led the charge, tweeting Thursday, “Final transaction (basically) for the Vikings…Vikings get: WR Jauan Jennings, No. 98 (S Jakobe Thomas), 2027 R3. Vikings give: EDGE Jonathan Greenard, No. 244 (S Cole Wisniewski).”
Had the Vikings not traded Greenard — instead paying him $100 million over the next four years — affording Jennings may not have been in the cards, or so the theory goes.
A Sweet Deal if So
Of course, one must be expansive in one’s thought process to include Jennings in the trade: Jennings wasn’t part of the Eagles’ roster. It’s similar to including T.J. Hockenson in the Vikings’ 2023 draft class, since the club traded for him in 2022 using 2023 draft picks.
Still, if Jennings were included pound for pound in the swap — basically Nystrom’s assertion — the deal looks all the more attractive. Minnesota already grabbed Thomas from the draft as fruit from the trade; another 3rd-Rounder will enter the mix next April.
The Vikings may not have been able to afford Jennings if they extended Greenard — unless they restructured current players’ deals and kicked the can down the road on future salary caps — so noting his arrival as fallout from the Greenard trade is fair.
Jennings’s History
Foremost, Minnesota will get this documented production for its new wideout:
2022: 35 catches | 416 yards | 1 TD
2023: 19 catches | 265 yards | 1 TD
2024: 77 catches | 975 yards | 6 TDs
2025: 55 catches | 643 yards | 9 TDs
If Jennings can combine his 2024 yardage totals with his 2025 touchdown production, O’Connell’s offense will experience a rapid boost. Jennings has already proven himself as a legitimate WR3, eliminating the need for Minnesota to hope for his eventual development.
Beyond that, Jennings offers sweet depth. Should Justin Jefferson or Jordan Addison miss time, he provides a reliable WR2 option, preventing the Vikings from having to thrust a young player into a demanding role prematurely. Call it insurance for the just-in-case.
His contributions extend to blocking, too, an oft-underappreciated aspect of the sport. Jennings stands out as one of the NFL’s premier blocking wide receivers. While this might seem like a minor detail, players primarily known for this skill often have limited offensive roles, a pitfall Jennings avoids. For instance, former Viking Trent Sherfield was a useful blocker but had a largely restricted offensive role.
Jennings, however, offers a more complete package. In 2024, Pro Football Focus awarded him a 73.8 run-blocking grade. While wide receiver blocking isn’t a primary factor in player signings and may not excite fans in May, it’s a valuable asset that Vikings coaches undoubtedly appreciate. Jennings has versatility. Think of it that way.
Ultimately, his primary appeal lies in providing the Vikings with a much more robust WR3 option and valuable depth behind Jefferson and Addison. A realistic, though difficult, consideration involves potential injuries. What if Jefferson or Addison were to suffer an injury this summer? While no one wants to dwell on such possibilities, NFL rosters are almost invariably tested.
Without Jennings, a significant injury to either Jefferson or Addison would leave the Vikings with a much thinner receiving corps. For instance, if Jefferson were sidelined, the top three receivers in September could be Addison, Tai Felton, and Myles Price. That would spell panic. Addison, Jennings, and Felton is much different than Addison, Felton, and Price.
While some might suggest the Vikings could simply run the ball more, O’Connell has made his offensive philosophy clear: he prefers to throw the football. Jennings helps maintain that offensive identity.
Best WR Trio since the Glory Days
The Vikings have employed decent WR3s over the years, including Jalen Nailor, K.J. Osborn, Jerome Simpson, and Bernard Berrian, to name a few.
But with Jennings in the house, and assuming Jefferson, Addison, and he stay healthy, the current threesome is Minnesota’s best on paper since the days of Randy Moss, Cris Carter, and Jake Reed. There are still posters and shirts with “Three Deep” around in the Twin Cities.
Jefferson-Addison-Jennings won’t quite replicate Three Deep, but it’s the closest thing to it since 1999.
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