On Tuesday, Minnesota Vikings fans received news from reliable NFL insiders that outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard might be traded this offseason if the team cannot accommodate his contract extension within their budget. The potential Jonathan Greenard trade options prompt the Vikings to consider lower-cost alternatives to maintain their pass rush effectiveness.
Should Greenard depart, Minnesota is likely to elevate 2024 first-round pick Dallas Turner into a starting role, retain Andrew Van Ginkel, and seek an affordable third outside linebacker through free agency. This article explores three possible candidates who could fill that role and help preserve the Vikings’ defensive edge.
Options for Maintaining Pressure on the Quarterback Without Greenard
Trading Jonathan Greenard appears to be a genuine possibility as the Vikings face cap constraints and roster decisions. Minnesota’s strategy would involve adjusting their linebacker group to balance performance and cost effectively.
A.J. Epenesa: A Former Teammate Familiar to New Defensive Staff
The Vikings brought in Ryan Nielsen this offseason as their defensive running game coordinator. Nielsen previously worked with A.J. Epenesa during his time with the Buffalo Bills in 2025, where Epenesa made a notable impact as a pass rusher. The defensive end, who was a second-round pick six years ago, is set to become a free agent and could be signed for approximately $6 to $7 million per year, according to Spotrac.
When given ample playing time, Epenesa has averaged around six sacks per season, fitting neatly behind Van Ginkel and Turner if Minnesota decides to acquire him. His pass-rushing grades from Pro Football Focus (PFF) over the last six years reflect solid if somewhat inconsistent production:
2025: 63.4, 2024: 54.2, 2023: 75.0, 2022: 70.0, 2021: 62.7, 2020: 67.4
However, Epenesa is primarily a pass-rush specialist and not known for his run defense, which likely contributes to his affordability and pending free agency status.
Epenesa had two seasons with 6.5 sacks where he also hovered around 40% of snaps on the defense. Assuming Epenesa could handle a doubled workload, putting him in rarefied air for a defensive end, you could argue the extrapolation to a 13-sack season profiles a drastically different player.
BuffaloRumblings.com
That would indeed be considered an elite season for a single player. That bring up the question maybe you want to debate in the comments Do you believe that Epenesa’s rate would hold up with a drastically higher workload?
BuffaloRumblings.com
Leonard Floyd: Veteran Experience for a Situational Role
Leonard Floyd offers a seasoned option who has history with Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell from their time in Los Angeles with the Rams. Floyd was with the Rams from 2020 to 2022, winning a Super Bowl alongside O’Connell. Now 33, Floyd has accumulated extensive experience and can still contribute as a situational pass rusher, likely suiting the role of a third outside linebacker on Minnesota’s depth chart.
Throughout his career, Floyd has played 153 games, all starts, recording 70 sacks, 149 quarterback hits, and 76 tackles for loss. Despite some decline in recent years and occasional tackling issues, he has been able to contribute significantly in both run defense and pass rushing during his prime.
PFF grades for Floyd from 2016 onward indicate consistent performance, although a gradual decrease recently:
2016: 66.3, 2017: 63.8, 2018: 69.9, 2019: 69.9, 2020: 69.5, 2021: 73.8, 2022: 65.7, 2023: 58.7, 2024: 53.9, 2025: 60.1
Floyd has moved frequently in recent seasons, having played for the Rams, Bills, 49ers, and Falcons from 2022 through 2025. He logged approximately 50% of the Falcons’ defensive snaps in 2025, a workload that would fit well with Minnesota’s needs, and he could likely be signed for around $8 million per season.
Floyd still has the juice to press tackles to the corner as a rotational rusher. He produced pressure on 13 percent of his pass-rush snaps, a rate that ranked in the top 50 among all players with at least 200 pass-rushing snaps. It topped his pressure rate from each of the previous three seasons.
Daniel Popper, The Athletic
Payton Turner: Affordable Potential Looking for a Fresh Start
Payton Turner might not excite Vikings fans as much as the other candidates, but he brings affordability and untapped potential. Expected to sign for about $2 to $3 million per season, Turner was once a first-round pick by the New Orleans Saints but has yet to fully live up to that status.
Turner has faced multiple injuries early in his career but managed to play 16 games in 2024 and recorded five sacks in his career so far. Unfortunately, he missed the entire 2025 season with a rib injury after joining the Dallas Cowboys.
With Ryan Nielsen having coached Turner in New Orleans, Minnesota’s new defensive staff is familiar with his skill set, which could offer Turner a chance to revive his career under head coach Brian Flores’s guidance. This situation is reminiscent of how Eric Wilson’s career improved under Flores, illustrating a hope that Turner’s prospects could improve similarly.
Turner’s future is uncertain, but he could represent a low-risk signing that might yield surprising rewards if he regains full health and form.
Implications for the Vikings’ Defensive Future
If the Vikings proceed with trading Jonathan Greenard due to salary cap pressures or strategic roster decisions, the team faces significant choices at outside linebacker. Promoting Dallas Turner and relying on Andrew Van Ginkel alongside one of these three candidates could sustain Minnesota’s pass rush capabilities without exceeding budget constraints.
Choosing between Epenesa’s pass-rushing burst, Floyd’s veteran stability, or Turner’s potential rekindling will depend on the Vikings’ evaluations of cost, health, and immediate impact. This decision could influence the defense’s effectiveness next season and how the Vikings manage their salary cap moving forward.
