One Vikings Offseason Move Deserves More Love
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.
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.
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.
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).”
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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.