The Ideal Way to Handle Aaron Jones’ Pending Free Agency

Dec 1, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) reacts after scoring the game winning touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

As things stand, Aaron Jones will march into free agency in March.

Or, perhaps, that possibility never materializes. After all, Minnesota can do business with their own players before free agency gets going. A Jones deal could arrive prior to the frenzy, offering both player and team some assurances about the future. Jones knows that Minnesota is still home; Minnesota knows that they still have a dependable running back.

Dec 8, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) celebrates his running touchdown with quarterback Sam Darnold (14) during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

The problem, of course, is simply that Mr. Jones is getting older. Already 30, Jones is getting toward the end of his career. Helping him is the simple fact that his workload in Green Bay was often relatively modest, possibly giving him a bit more leeway as he ventures into his 30s. Nevertheless, the Vikings understand that they need to start thinking about life after Jones regardless of whether a new deal is reached.

As a result, one wonders if Jones will get treated like a bridge running back. Similar to how a team signs a veteran passer to help a young quarterback acclimate to life in the NFL, the Vikings could pluck a talented runner out of the 2025 NFL Draft to function in tandem with Jones for the next season or two.

Aaron Jones & The Vikings’ Plan at Running Back

Whoever is throwing the football will benefit from a strong ground game. Indeed, there’s no such thing as a passer who doesn’t enjoy having good ground support to complement the aerial attack.

Just think of what the Lions have been able to do with the David Montgomery/Jahmyr Gibbs duo. Jared Goff has turned his career around, in no small part due to the brilliance from OC Ben Johnson (who has now taken off to become a head coach). But, to be sure, a lot of that brilliance from Johnson rests in the one-two punch available to him within the Montgomery/Gibbs backfield.

Dec 24, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) runs the ball as Minnesota Vikings safety Josh Metellus (44) defends during the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Aaron Jones started all seventeen games for the Vikings. He picked up 255 carries and 1,138 yards, both career highs. The 4.5 yards-per-carry average is a career low, but it’s still a healthy number, all things considered. Even better, Jones proved to be a strong pass catcher, turning 62 targets into 51 receptions for 408 yards and 2 scores.

Keep in mind, as well, that Jones is strong in pass protection. There’s quite a bit of sturdiness within Jones’ 5’9”, 208-pound frame.

J.J. McCarthy seems likely to take over as the QB1 in 2025. He’ll be throwing the ball to arguably the league’s foremost trio of pass catchers: Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson. A good start, no doubt, but not where the offensive game plan should end.

NFL: NFC Wild Card Round-Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Retaining Jones on a (sensible) two-year deal would help to stabilize the floor in the running game while offering the sophomore passer another option when it’s time to throw the ball. The Vikings should be pursuing a long-term solution, though, with a youthful runner who can hit home runs in a manner similar to Gibbs in Detroit (a lofty goal, yes, but one to pursue).

The widespread feeling is that Ashton Jeanty is an elite runner but seeing him fall to 24th would be a surprise. Any chance Kwesi Adofo-Mensah finds another runner who can do damage in the Vikings’ backfield (read about a different option)?

Jones can be responsible for taking the first snap of the game. He can still do well running the ball and especially in the different aspects of the passing game – as a pass catcher and blocker – but partnering him with a youthful runner who has upside aplenty is the right way to go.

His last deal was for a single season and $7 million. Something within the range of $12-$15 million over a pair of years would make sense for both sides.

Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.


K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter, as a co-host for Notes from the North, and as the proprietor at The Vikings Gazette, a humble Vikings Substack.