One Vikings Offseason Move Deserves More Love

Vikings fan Lady Lagertha cheers during Week 5 win over Jets in London, 2024.
Minnesota Vikings superfan Lady Lagertha of the vWo (Vikings World Order) cheers proudly in London during Week 5 of the 2024 season, where the Vikings secured a victory over the New York Jets. Lagertha traveled overseas to support the team on international turf.

We’ve mentioned it before, and we’ll do it again.

A growing number of folks are pointing to one underrated Vikings transaction that could have a major impact this season. The man should make life on offense a lot easier.

Get familiar with Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason because, for some, he will feel like a revelation and a breath of fresh air in 2025.

Minnesota found Mason via trade in March, and the transaction needs more love from Vikings fans. It was a big deal.

Don’t Forget the Jordan Mason Trade

Mason will be the latest Vikings to perhaps fix the rushing offense.

Buffalo Bills defenders collapse on San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason during a hard-hitting first-half play in Orchard Park on Dec. 1, 2024. The 49ers faced relentless pressure from Buffalo’s front four throughout the matchup. Mandatory Credit: Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

The Jordan Mason Trade Needs More Kudos

The Vikings’ rushing offense has not clicked with Kevin O’Connell. It simply has not. Everything else about the guy is outstanding, but his rushing offense is for the birds.

So, when O’Connell’s boss, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, pulled the trigger on a trade for Jordan Mason, it symbolized the most important attempt at a fix, maybe in the whole O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah era.

The duo knows its rushing efficiency through three seasons has floundered. Acquiring players like Mason is an acknowledgment.

Adding Mason was so vital because O’Connell’s offense will never, ever reach its apex if the rushing offense is awful or mediocre. Teams that win Super Bowls don’t have trashy rushing offenses. The inverse is true, in fact. The Philadelphia Eagles can attest.

Mason is a serious repair for an ailing Vikings rushing offense.

The Athletic Weighs In

The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis has led the charge recently, a big fan of the Mason trade in various writings. He noted last week, “Jordan Mason, RB: For my money, this is the most underrated Vikings move of the offseason. He benefited from the San Francisco 49ers’ run-game infrastructure, but there is something about his vision that seems different. Plus, he’s massive.”

And on Aaron Jones: “I’m not sure if Jones gets enough credit for what he accomplished last season. He ran for 1,138 yards behind a subpar interior offensive line. He also caught 51 passes. Mason’s addition warrants attention, but sleeping on or wanting to move past Jones is probably unwise.”

The Ed Ingram Trade That Paved the Way

Mason could not have been as easily obtained if it were not for the Ed Ingram trade.

Adofo-Mensah sent Ingram, once a 2022 2nd-Round pick, to the Houston Texans in exchange for a 6th-Round pick. Most fans didn’t think Ingram would fetch any trade compensation, but Adofo-Mensah pulled off the fleece.

Vikings guard Ed Ingram prepares for snap vs. Rams in Wild Card game.
Minnesota right guard Ed Ingram (67) lines up against the Rams during the NFC Wild Card playoff game on Jan. 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium. Ingram anchored the offensive line during the intense postseason matchup. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.

Shortly after, he targeted Mason via trade, so in the end, the deals look like an Ingram for Mason swap.

Under O’Connell, Minnesota has struggled to score short-yardage and goal line touchdowns, meaning offloading an unproductive offensive lineman for a short-yardage savant RB in Mason is just what the doctor ordered.

Taking Pressure off Aaron Jones

Minnesota’s primary running back, Aaron Jones, will turn 31 this season. He’s due for an age-related regression at some point, and injuries always affect Jones’ seasons, at least to some degree.

Vikings RB Aaron Jones Sr. runs vs. Jaguars, Nov. 10, 2024.
Minnesota running back Aaron Jones Sr. (33) bursts forward against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 10, 2024, at EverBank Stadium. Jones showed off his veteran burst during the first-quarter action. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images.

Instead of trading for Cam Akers or using Ty Chandler, Minnesota will already have Mason waiting. It’s also worth noting that Mason could be flat-out better than Jones — like last year on a per-carry basis.

More Mason Takes

The Viking Age‘s Ryan Heckman weighed in last week on Mason’s role in the Twin Cities.

He wrote, “Remember, the Minnesota Vikings traded a sixth-round pick and swapped Day 3 picks with the Niners to acquire Mason in the first place. That, in and of itself, is laughable on the 49ers’ end. But, then they rewarded him with a two-year deal worth up to $12 million. Mason’s 2024 season ended prematurely due to injury, but when he’s fully healthy, he is one of the more explosive backs in the game.”

“People might not realize it, but it’s true. Last year, Mason averaged 2.3 yards per carry after contact, which was higher than the likes of Kyren Williams, De’Von Achane, Aaron Jones, Breece Hall, Saquon Barkley, Jonathan Taylor, Joe Mixon and Alvin Kamara just to name a few (there are more).”

49ers RB Jordan Mason runs against Vikings in third quarter.
San Francisco 49ers running back J. Mason (24) drives ahead against Minnesota during the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sep. 15, 2024. Mason saw extended carries in the second half. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

By December, there’s a decent chance that Mason will grab the majority of the workload because of Jones’ injuries or otherwise.

Heckman added, “He also had 23 runs of over 10 yards or more, which is higher than several other starting running backs, but we don’t have to get into that. His 5.2 yards per carry is also another number you cannot ignore, which happens to be higher than many other starters across the league (Jones finished last year at 4.5).”

“Typically, you can spin a number any way you want. But, these are all part of the bigger picture. If Mason is given ample carries (whether or not he ends up ahead of Jones on the depth chart) then this Vikings run game could be spectacular. Oh, and did the 49ers’ passing attack look like the Vikings’ did last year? Hello, Justin Jefferson. You do the math.”

Mason will wear jersey No. 27 this season.


Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily ... More about Dustin Baker