Aaron Jones Forecasted for Sweet New Deal
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones helped stabilize an ailing ground attack for the purple team in 2024.
Aaron Jones Forecasted for Sweet New Deal
Before his arrival, Minnesota ranked 27th per rushing DVOA in 2022 and 2023, respectively, and the mark improved to No. 20 in the NFL last season. So, a seven-spot improvement.
But Jones only signed a one-year deal last offseason, meaning he’s on deck to test free agency in 18 days if the Vikings don’t re-sign him.
Well, according to Bleacher Report, Jones’ next deal could be a bit juicier than most expect, perhaps three years and $21 million, says Alex Kay.
Kay wrote this week, “Expect Jones to net a similarly priced extension from the Vikings before then. Although a three-year deal would take him through his age-33 campaign, Minnesota’s brass can give itself outs in the contract while keeping the door open for Jones to stay if he continues to play at a high level. Best Fit: Minnesota Vikings.”
If Jones returns at all, most Vikings fans have envisioned a one-year deal for Jones because of his age. He’ll turn 31 in December, which is somewhat ancient for a bellcow RB1.
“The Vikings received a great return on their one-year, $7 million investment. They can now look to shore up their backfield for the next few years knowing Jones still has plenty left in the tank. The writing is on the wall for Jones to return to Minnesota in 2025,” Kay added.
Why is the writing on the wall? Simple — the Vikings extended Jones’ void deadline last weekend, pushing the decision a bit into the future. ESPN’s Field Yates tweeted, “The Vikings and RB Aaron Jones agreed to move the void date on his contract from this Monday until the final day before free agency. If Jones had not been extended by Monday, the team would have taken on $3.2M in dead money in 2025. This expands the window for Jones and Minnesota to continue to negotiate a new deal that would avoid that amount hitting the cap in full for 2025.”
A similar procedure was used in 2023 with defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, although he ultimately departed the franchise and joined the Cleveland Browns.
“It doesn’t guarantee a new deal will be reached, but it buys time for both sides if there is interest in hammering one out before free agency,” Yates added.
Jones banked over 1,500 yards from scrimmage and 7 touchdowns in 2024, a fantastic stat line for a 30-year-old runner. The ex-Green Bay Packer had one of the busiest seasons of his career per workload and played all 17 games despite an “injury-prone” designation over the last few years. Jones’ was at his 2024 peak in the first five or so games of the year, tailing off a bit down the stretch, but he didn’t miss any time on a team that desperately needed to mend its rushing offense.
So, as it seems likely that Minnesota will re-up with Jones’ services in 2025, the BR reporting suggests more than one year could be on the table.
It’s worth noting that Minnesota could also draft a running back in April — in addition to re-signing Jones. This year’s crop is remarkably deep at running back.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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