As the Carolina Panthers begin to prepare for the upcoming free agency period, general manager Dan Morgan and the rest of the front office will look to build off the recent success of the franchise.

After making the playoffs for the first time since 2017, the Panthers are now in a position to potentially take the organization to the next level. But, in order to truly become a real title contender, it’s clear that Carolina must make a big splash this offseason.

On defense, the Panthers’ unit was able to make great strides over the course of the 2025 season. However, there are concerns regarding the team’s current pass rush, as 2025 second-round pick Nic Scourton and star defensive tackle Derrick Brown are the lone difference-makers in the trenches.

Luckily, there are a few names that could be an excellent fit for the defense in 2026, including Minnesota Vikings Jonathan Greenard.

Greenard, a former third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans, has quickly become a talented pass rusher at the NFL level. While he did not receive much playing time as a rookie, Greenard would quickly become an impact player for the Texans in 2021, finishing the year with 33 tackles and eight sacks.

Unfortunately for the former Florida Gator standout, he would play in just eight games after his breakout season, but he managed to have a bounce-back season for Houston in 2023, ending the year with a career-high 52 tackles and 12.5 sacks. This would lead to him receiving a massive four-year, $76 million contract from the Vikings in free agency.

In his first year with his new team, Greenard continued his success, recording another 12-sack season in 2024. But his numbers would take a tumble this past season after playing in 12 games. Now, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter on Tuesday afternoon, Minnesota is now open to moving off Greenard this offseason.

If the Panthers want to take a huge swing on the defensive line before the 2026 season, Greenard is a prime candidate. His veteran presence is a perfect fit to put on the other side of Scourton, who showed plenty of promise throughout his rookie season with Carolina.

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