With the Minnesota Vikings trading star edge rusher Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft and releasing defensive tackle Jonathan Allen—who later joined the Cincinnati Bengals on a two-year deal—is it fair to be concerned about the voids left by the two veteran departures?

The 28-year-old pass rusher, whom Minnesota signed to a four-year, $76 million contract as an unrestricted free agent in 2024, was dealt due to ongoing salary cap challenges.

Greenard, a former third-round pick of the Houston Texans out of the University of Florida, spent his first four seasons in H-Town. He recorded 23 sacks, 97 total pressures, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one interception during his four-year tenure with the team.

After signing with the Vikings, Greenard earned his first Pro Bowl nod in his first season with the team, posting 12 sacks, 84 total pressures and four forced fumbles. This past season, however, was a down year by his standards, as he finished with just three sacks, 47 total pressures and one forced fumble in 12 games for Minnesota.

That being said, Greenard has firmly established himself as one of the premier pass rushers in the league when healthy, already recording two double-digit sack seasons over the span of his six-year career. Although a season-ending left shoulder injury that required surgery derailed his 2025 campaign, he remains in the prime of his career and could leave a significant void in the Vikings’ pass rush.

Just one year into the three-year, $51 million deal he signed with Minnesota last offseason, the 31-year-old is set to join his third team in as many seasons.

The Vikings prioritized the interior of the trenches this offseason by selecting a defensive tackle with two of their first three picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, using those selections on Florida’s Caleb Banks and Iowa State defensive tackle Domonique.

In 2025, Allen recorded 3.5 sacks, 34 total pressures, 34 stops, 12 stuffs and one forced fumble across 17 games. His 64.9 pass-rush grade ranked 51st among 134 qualified interior defensive linemen, while his overall grade of 53.2 ranked 86th, per Pro Football Focus.

Allen spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Washington Commanders, who selected him in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Over that span, he recorded 42 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception, establishing himself as one of the league’s most disruptive interior defenders.

While Allen’s production may no longer be at its peak, his impact remains significant. He was named a team captain for five consecutive seasons during his time with the Commanders, and his leadership and veteran presence were felt during his time with the Vikings.