Vikings Pull Off a Stunner
The Minnesota Vikings are in the midst of their offseason moves to prepare the roster for the upcoming season. Though they were expected to part ways with some players on Wednesday, they changed course and kept running back Aaron Jones for a third season.
A release would’ve saved some cap space, but opened a hole in the running back room. Instead, the runner takes a pay cut, making a divorce no longer practical.
ESPN reported Wednesday, “Veteran running back Aaron Jones Sr. has restructured his deal with the Minnesota Vikings and won’t be released, agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday. His new one-year deal is for $5.6 million, including $5 million guaranteed.”
Jones was a 2024 free agent addition after the Green Bay Packers had released him following an injury-plagued 2023 campaign. In his first season on the purple side of the state border, he eclipsed 1,500 yards from scrimmage in a Pro Bowl-caliber season.
Unsurprisingly, the Vikings extended his one-year deal, this time giving him two more years. Jones once again missed time, this time with a hamstring injury, and ultimately logged 747 scrimmage yards and 3 touchdowns.
The veteran will now form a solid duo with Jordan Mason for a second season, complementing the big-bodied bruiser with a more technical skill set, especially in the passing game as both an excellent pass-catcher and one of the league’s top pass protectors.
He can still play, though age and a string of minor injuries over the last few years are real concerns. The lowest yards-per-carry total of his career shows he has certainly lost a step. Still, Jones ranked in the middle of the pack in EPA/rush (23rd/49 eligible RBs), success rate (16th/49), and TFL percentage (19th/49).
Add in the fact that he’s one of the best third-down backs in the business with good hands and blocking ability, and you get a nice deal for the Vikings. Jones is also a respected voice in the locker room and Minnesota has already parted ways with several others.
Alec Lewis of The Athletic commented, “Jones’ return secures a key leadership role. He also keeps O’Connell’s playbook open from a pass-game perspective. This revised contract also prevents Mason from having to spend more time as a pass protector.”
Retaining Jones also preserves continuity in Kevin O’Connell’s offense. Minnesota leaned heavily on the veteran’s versatility over the last two seasons, using him not only as a runner but also as a key piece in pass protection and the screen game. That kind of reliability can be difficult to replace quickly, particularly for an offense that will feature either a young or a new quarterback. Keeping Jones ensures the Vikings maintain a dependable option in critical situations while the rest of the offense continues to evolve.
In the end, keeping Jones costs the Vikings only slightly more than releasing him would have counted against the cap. That, however, would’ve opened another hole on the roster and comparable runners would’ve cost more than the savings compared to just keeping him around.
One wrinkle in the equation is that Jones shouldn’t prevent the front office from acquiring a back in the draft. He will turn 32 during the 2026 season and some fresh legs are needed. Pairing Jones and Mason with a mid-round rookie would complete the running back room.
Both veterans will be pending free agents entering the 2027 offseason. Having a younger back on the squad would give the Vikes options.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.