The San Francisco 49ers are expected to prioritize pass-rush help this offseason after finishing with a league-low 20 sacks in 2025—six fewer than the next-closest team. Given the lack of production, it's no surprise the 49ers are being linked to potential trade targets, including Minnesota Vikings pass rusher Jonathan Greenard.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Vikings would prefer to retain Greenard but are open to trade discussions involving the Pro Bowl defender.
Vikings are now open to trading Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Geeenard, per sources.
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
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 3, 2026
Could the 49ers be interested? Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports believes so, listing San Francisco among five potential landing spots. The others: the Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals, and Buffalo Bills.
San Francisco's pass rush was derailed last season by injuries to Nick Bosa and 2025 first-round pick Mykel Williams, both of whom suffered ACL tears. While the expectation is that each will return in 2026, the 49ers' lack of proven depth behind them became a glaring issue as the season progressed.
"A lot of the 49ers' inability to generate pass rush last year was the byproduct of Nick Bosa missing most of the year after he tore his ACL," DeArdo wrote. "But even with Bosa slated to make a full recovery, it would still make sense for the 49ers to have some reinforcements at pass rusher behind Bosa and 2025 first-round pick Mykel Williams, who also saw his 2025 season shortened due to injury."
The Houston Texans selected Greenard in the third round (No. 90 overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft. He spent his first four NFL seasons in Houston before signing a multi-year deal with Minnesota in March 2024.
In 2025, Greenard appeared in 12 games (10 starts) for the Vikings, recording 38 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three sacks, 12 quarterback hits, and three passes defensed. He also forced a fumble before a shoulder injury ended his season in December.
While last year's sack total dipped, Greenard flashed high-end production in 2023 and 2024, combining for 24.5 sacks across those two seasons and earning a Pro Bowl nod following the 2024 campaign.
Over six NFL seasons, Greenard has played in 77 games (59 starts), totaling 217 tackles, 38 sacks, 60 tackles for loss, and eight forced fumbles, per Pro Football Reference.
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