Jordan Mason May Be Highlight of Vikings’ Offseason
The Minnesota Vikings needed to improve the interiors of both the offensive and defensive lines. They needed to make moves to shore up depth that left in free agency and continue elevating the defense.
Jordan Mason May Be Highlight of Vikings’ Offseason
Last season, the running game saw veteran Aaron Jones start every game despite having previously dealt with durability and health issues. That was good news, and he turned the opportunity into a career-best yardage total. The reality was that he still saw plenty of bumps and bruises along the way. He’s not getting any younger, and betting on that good health to repeat itself isn’t wise.
Minnesota knew that was the case, and they were always going to need another running back. Rather than signing one, or using a draft pick on one, they traded for San Francisco 49ers back Jordan Mason.
Mason has seen plenty of work with the 49ers as Christian McCaffrey remains a mainstay on injured reserve. Last season, he played in 12 games while starting six of them. It was the most action he has ever seen over the course of his career, and he turned 153 carries into 789 yards. His 5.3 yards per carry are eye-popping, and he hit the century mark at U.S. Bank Stadium against Minnesota in Week 2.
The Vikings need their running game to be productive as they break in young quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The former Michigan Wolverine star had plenty of strong running talent behind him in college, which often allowed him to exploit the defense. The more help Minnesota can provide McCarthy on the ground, the more open his passing windows should be.
The interior offensive line upgrades should make noticeable improvements for the running game. Jones often struggled to find consistent holes, and that only got worse when the team got closer to the end zone. Kevin O’Connell can mix and match his running backs, and they should have beef in front of them capable of opening running lanes.
Mason might fly under the radar compared to the more necessary additions this offseason. It’s likely that when the games start, though, his presence will be felt in a very big way.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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