An analyst envisions a massive 2026 draft shuffle: Vikings land a top pick, Chiefs secure a proven pass rusher.
It's draft prediction season as we approach this month's 2026 NFL draft. With several mock drafts already having exhausted the possibilities for who teams will select if the draft order stays the same, NFL writers are now looking to potential trades that could occur.
ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell made several predictions for potential trades for the 2026 NFL draft. One of his trades involved the Vikings swapping elite edge rusher Jonathan Greenard and the No. 18 pick for Chiefs edge rusher Felix Anudike-Uzomah and the No. 9 pick in the draft. Barnwell discussed why it makes sense for both teams.
"We've heard that picking ninth gives the Chiefs a rare chance to address critical positions on their roster with a premium pick, and that's true. What if they do that in a relatively unconventional way? George Karlaftis has settled in as a solid starter, and Chris Jones' impact hasn't dipped as much as his statistical production suggests, but the Chiefs would love to come out of this draft with an impact edge rusher. They might be just a tad too low to land that player at No. 9 if the board goes as expected.
One other way to address that need would be to add a star in Greenard, who racked up 12 sacks and 22 knockdowns with the Vikings in 2024 before injuries wrecked his 2025 campaign. Greenard will turn 29 in May, so he should still have a couple of years of impactful pass rushing before the Chiefs would need to worry about moving on. Greenard has two years and $37.9 million remaining on his deal, and though Brett Veach & Co. would have to address that contract with a meaningful raise, Greenard could still be an easily justifiable addition for the Chiefs, given their perennial role as Super Bowl contenders."
Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams (33) runs against Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) and linebacker Eric Wilson (55) during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Raymond Carlin III-Imagn ImagesThe Vikings are about as close to obvious trade candidates as a team can be given their draft positioning. Minnesota needs an impactful starter with their first-round pick, so it stands to reason they will do everything they can to find that player. They may require a trade to guarantee that top pick.
The difficulty will be whether or not the team is willing to give up a starter to get that player. The value of the proposed Greenard pick comes more so from adding the No. 9 pick than Anudike-Uzomah, who has three sacks in three NFL seasons.
We will monitor whether or not the Vikings are willing to move Greenard when the draft kicks off later this month.