Jonathan Greenard emphasizes ‘blessed and thankful’ to be a Viking on $76 million deal, ‘no hard feelings’ toward Texans

HOUSTON – Jonathan Greenard is traveling north on a high road, having left the Texans to join the Minnesota Vikings on a four-year, $76 million contract that averages $19 million annually with $42 million annually.

It’s a generational wealth moment for the Georgia native and the kind of life-changing money that makes him reflect heavily on the bigger picture and his growing family. His fiancee, Alta Gracia, soon to be his wife in late April, and their five-month old daughter, Rayna, were at the heart of his free agency decision.

“It’s amazing,” Greenard told KPRC 2 in a telephone interview. “It’s more of a feeling of security. The main thing I was excited about was being able to get in a situation to take care of my family. I don’t have to worry about if I did the right thing. This makes me feel 10 times better about my decision. I left feeling true to myself.

“I’m blessed and thankful that teams considered to be one of the guys in that category after where I was at times in Houston with injuries and the depth chart. I wasn’t even supposed to start heading into the season, at one point. I’m thankful for how it all played out. I’m excited for a fresh start and a new journey. Minnesota is a great place with great facility and it was exciting to have dinner with the guys and talk about what we plan to accomplish together.”

Because pass rushers are such a premium position and Greenard emerged as one of the top free agents with a breakthrough season as he recorded a career-high 12 1/2 sacks in his one season playing for coach DeMeco Ryans, he was expected to command anywhere between $17 million and $22 million annually on the open market. His market developed and fell right into that price range at $19 million annually.

Yes, the Texans held conversations with Greenard’s representatives, agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey. Financial expectations were discussed, but the two sides were on an entirely different page as far as what Greenard could make elsewhere or potentially if he had remained in Houston, the team that drafted him in the third round out of the University of Florida. Ultimately, Texans general manager Nick Caserio signed former Vikings Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter to a two-year, $51 million contract and Greenard replaced him in Minnesota.

“To my knowledge, there wasn’t an official offer from the Texans,” Greenard said. “There was minimal conversation, and we’ve all moved on. No hard feelings, I have no beef at all. The McNairs did so much for my family. I could never repay them. They treated me with so much love and respect. They reached out to me even after everything was over. It was great and it let me know how appreciate they were of me. They’re really good people. Drew did a lot of the talks. I didn’t have any conversations at all with Nick or DeMeco throughout the process. I had an idea throughout the season this could possibly be my last season there just because of the vibes. It wasn’t up to me.

“I played my ass off. I leave knowing I played my ass off and busted my ass off, even playing the last two games on bum ankles. I could barely run and mustered the strength, with no pain numbing shots, to go out there. I had an idea and a feeling I wouldn’t be in Houston anymore. I don’t think they put an offer in. I could see it happening. I knew I did my part.”

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A potential bidding war with other teams was financially undesirable for the Texans despite their cache of salary cap space and they quickly moved on with Hunter, a Morton Ranch graduate who has been named to four Pro Bowls and has recorded 87 1/2 career sacks.

And now Greenard joins the Vikings and a defense led by Brian Flores, one of the most aggressive defensive coordinators in the NFL, and a team led by coach Kevin O’Connell.

“Coach O’Connell is a really good dude, we talked a lot about ball,” Greenard said. “B-Flo is very aggressive. I mesh well with his system. I personally believe I could have an even better season than last year. The main thing people asked me is how do I feel as far as filling the shoes of Danielle, but Minnesota didn’t bring me there to be Danielle. They said just be JG, be the same person as far as what I bring to the table.”

Greenard, one of the most active players on the team in the community, manufactured his best season, recording 52 tackles, 15 tackles for losses and 22 quarterback hits.

He proved he can be durable, overcoming past injuries, and playing through a painful late-season sprained ankle to return for the playoffs. He expanded his growing repertoire of pass rushing moves, displaying power, skill and explosiveness. And he became a stouter run-stopper.

He’s aiming even higher going forward.

“How I go about my business, after what Danielle did with years and years of production off the charts, with B-Flo in this system, I feel I can achieve those same things or better,” Greenard said. “I’m excited about this breath of fresh air and aggressive system with guys who want me and value me. I’m honored and blessed, and I won’t take it for granted. Look at my journey. I’ve always believed in myself.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.