Somewhat quietly, outside linebacker Patrick Jones II has been attached to the Minnesota Vikings’ roster for four seasons.
One Vikings Defender May Not Return in 2025
Former general manager Rick Spielman scooped Jones II out of the 2021 NFL Draft, Spielman’s final in charge, and the defender served as a depth pass rusher on Vikings teams led by Mike Zimmer for a year and Kevin O’Connell since 2022.
Jones II’s contract expired at the end of the 2024 campaign, and according to Star Tribune‘s Ben Goessling, he may not be a priority to re-sign in an offseason where 24 players from the purple team are on tap for free agency.
“Jones, 26, had five sacks in the Vikings’ first four games, but had only two the rest of the year. In his final 11 games, he registered multiple pressures in a game only twice. He missed three games late in the season because of knee injuries. He appeared to be on track for a breakout year, but he didn’t show the consistent pressure that might have landed him a big contract,” Goessling wrote last week.
“With Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel back for 2025, and Dallas Turner likely to play a bigger role in his second season, Jones wouldn’t seem to be at the top of the Vikings’ priority list.”
Jones logged 24 quarterback pressures in 2024 and 7 sacks, representing one of Minnesota’s somewhat unforeseen contributors last year. In fact, Jones II and his counterparts, Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard, played “too well” that rookie EDGE Dallas Turner experienced less defensive action.
Now, with free agency three weeks away, Jones II could be the odd man out because of that very reason — next season should be Turner’s theoretical breakout timeline. The Vikings traded a sizable draft capital sum for the draft pick that fetched Turner, and it would be quite bizarre to re-up with Jones II only to plop Turner on the bench.
Most consider the aforementioned Greenard and Van Ginkel unbenchable, so for Turner to earn meaningful playing time, men like Jones II will likely find the exit sign this offseason.
These are Minnesota’s outside linebackers entering free agency, under contract for 2025:
OLB1: Jonathan Greenard
OLB2: Andrew Van Ginkel
OLB3: Dallas Turner
OLB4: Bo Richter
OLB5: Gabriel Murphy
It’s one of Minnesota’s deepest roster spots.
Jones II’s teammate, Jihad Ward, is also scheduled to hit free agency, though he only played for the Vikings in one season.
If he signs elsewhere, Jones II is projected to earn about $3 million per season.
Jones II participated in 459 defensive snaps last season, or about 46%. Turner played 300 (28%).
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.