After accomplishing almost the peak of success during the 2025 season, the biggest weaknesses of the Patriots' roster were beyond clear going into the offseason. Aside from needing upgrades on their offensive line, they also needed help on defense, with their pass rush the most vulnerable.
It inevitably linked them to a number of top-name free agents and some of the biggest names on the trade block, one of whom was Jonathan Greenard, who wanted out of Minnesota after realizing he likely wasn't going to get the extension he was hoping for.
That led the Vikings to trade him to the Eagles earlier this offseason, but before that, the Patriots were among the few teams who felt like an obvious trade partner. Considering they had only signed Dre'Mont Jones in free agency and were unable to get rookie Gabe Jacas under contract until this past week, they were bound to be a frontrunner to get involved in trade talks.
And for the most part, fans were intrigued with what Greenard could bring to the team, even if he didn't necessarily fit the model of what Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf have proclaimed they want in their rebuilt roster.
Although they could still certainly use the kind of production Greenard would provide for the defense, they just got a clear sign that their reluctance to inquire or their potential lack of interest was a good move, as the 29-year-old is set to start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list for Philadelphia.
The Patriots might have been better off not trading for Jonathan Greenard
At this stage of the offseason, there are still concerns about whether the Patriots did enough to improve their pass rush ahead of a considerably difficult schedule.
They're set to face some of the most mobile quarterbacks in the league, which they have historically not fared well against, and they might not be better prepared this year than last.
There was some optimism surrounding Jones from minicamp and OTAs, as he stood out and impressed with his work ethic and performance, but with Harold Landry starting training camp on the PUP list and the rest of the depth chart being made of unproven talent, a veteran like Greenard would have been a welcome sight.
At the same time, as we see, he suffered an injury during a workout that now has him sidelined, and that would be the last thing the Patriots would need at this point. They're lucky to have finally struck a deal with Jacas, but he's still not participating in practice just yet.
It's unclear when Landry will be able to return, so it's far from ideal, and having Greenard among those absent would only make the situation even worse.
It looks like another scenario to give Wolf a pat on the back for staying put rather than getting too excited and making a trade, even though there are plenty of arguments that the roster currently needs a proven talent like Greenard.
Regardless, we need to see a lot from the current batch of pass rushers, especially those who are getting an ample opportunity to prove that they can step up to the plate and fill in during Landry's absence and maybe become a hidden gem who can ease the concerns about their chances of getting to opposing quarterbacks.
Otherwise, the debate about the need for another pass rusher, like maybe Jadeveon Clowney or Kyle Van Noy, won't stop and could linger into the regular season.
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