Vikings Pro Bowler Given Surprising Prediction For The Season

The Minnesota Vikings have one of the more interesting offensive situations coming into 2025, with few people fully confident in the knowledge of exactly what kind of output first year starting quarterback, JJ McCarthy will be able to produce after taking over from departed QB, Sam Darnold.

However on defense the team loaded up, up front, signing defensive linemen, Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen. And some believe that their pass rush could in fact be one of the more deadly in the NFC. One player, specifically: Jonathan Greenard.

Greenard had an excellent first year in a Vikings outfit in 2024, managing 12 sacks and 59 total tackles, and Alec Lewis of The Athletic believes that the former Houston Texan can build on a strong last season to generate some top-level production in 2025.

Production that, according to him, could result in him winning the widely-coveted Defensive Player of the Year award.

Jonathan Greenard Given Sky-High Projection In 2nd Year With Minnesota

“Last year, in his first season in defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ system,” Lewis wrote on Saturday, “Greenard was one of two NFL edge rushers to record more than 50 pressures, more than 10 sacks, more than 25 run stops and more than 10 run stuffs. The other player who accomplished the feat? Myles Garrett.”

Lewis also points out that the added strength of the interior pass rush could well lead to more opportunities for Greenard to face single coverage, rather than getting persistently double teamed like other elite players at the position.

“The Vikings added interior defenders Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave to the mix. Their inclusion should mean more one-on-one opportunities for Greenard, who is still only 28. He has dominated Vikings training camp, and he looks as formidable as any defender has since coach Kevin O’Connell arrived.”

Could Greenard Win The DPOY Award?

Along with the addition of the two interior defenders, it is important to note that Greenard also has significant support opposite him on the other exterior of the defensive line in outside linebacker, Andrew Van Ginkel and 2024 first round pick, Dallas Turner.

Turner had his best year as a pro in 2024, where he generated 11.5 sacks and two interceptions. So well, in fact, that he managed to keep Turner – who was expected by many to come out and be a day one starter as a rookie – out of the lineup.

This year, Turner should see more playing time on the edge, and will likely split some time with Van Ginkel – giving the defense multiple difficult players to think about on just one side of the line – and thus opening up more space and operational game-planning for Greenard on the other.

Greenard is not yet considered a member of the top-tier echelon of edge rushers in the NFL, but he’s certainly a sneaky sleeper to potentially do some damage, both in game and on the final stat sheet. Currently, he is around 80/1 to win the prize according to the bookmakers.

As Lewis notes, the prediction in indeed “bold”, but it’s far from being totally impossible by any means.

Daniel Arwas Daniel Arwas is a sports writer who covers the NFL for Heavy.com. Daniel began his career in sports writing in 2022 and has covered the NFL and college football for Gridiron Heroics and The Hammer. More about Daniel Arwas