Jonathan Greenard is set to parlay the best season of his career into potentially one of the biggest paydays in NFL free agency.
Greenard emerged as a dominant force on the opposite side of the Houston Texans’ defensive line from first-round rookie Will Anderson Jr. During the 2023 campaign, Greenard logged a career-high 12.5 sacks with 52 total tackles and two pass breakups.
ESPN lists Greenard as one of the players must likely to break the bank once NFL free agency gets underway on March 13.
“Timing is everything in life,” Field Yates writes for ESPN. “And Greenard crushed it in his contract year, posting his second season with eight or more sacks with a career-best 12.5. Greenard has had intriguing upside but put it all together during a resurgent season for Houston that saw him wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks. Not yet 27 years old, Greenard still has prime physical years in front of him and should command a sizable contract.”
Since being chosen by the Texans in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Greenard has developed into a disruptive force, posting 23 sacks with 120 total tackles, 32 tackles for loss, and one interception that he returned for a touchdown.
What is Greenard’s Market in NFL Free Agency?
There’s a very real possibility that Greenard will break the bank once NFL free agency gets underway, and could reset the pass-rush market.
Pro Football Focus suggests that Greenard could sign a four-year contract worth $76 million that includes $52.5 million fully guaranteed.
“Greenard saw the most playing time in 2023 (697 snaps) over his four-year career with the Texans,” Zoltán Buday writes for PFF. “And he put together his most complete campaign, too. This past season was the first time he earned PFF grades above 69.0 in pass rushing and run defense. He also recorded 15 of his 26 career sacks in 2023.”
If the Houston Texans want to prevent Greenard from reaching NFL free agency, they have the resources.
Houston currently has upwards of $70 million in cap space.
However, contenders such as the Detroit Lions, with $54 million in cap space, the Cincinnati Bengals with $50 million in cap space, and the Seattle Seahawks with $44 million in cap space could come knocking for Greenard once NFL free agency begins.
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