Why the Vikings Made Their Big Trade …
The Minnesota Vikings wanted to alleviate Aaron Jones’ workload — preserve him — embarking on an offseason quest to find a quality running back to complement the 30-year-old.
Why the Vikings Made Their Big Trade …
In mid-March, Minnesota found its solution in Jordan Mason, a running back from the San Francisco 49ers who filled in admirably out west for Christian McCaffrey in 2024.
Kevin O’Connell explained the motivation this week in exquisite detail, a peek into his mind about Mason’s role this autumn.
Kevin O’Connell on Aaron Jones
O’Connell got in front of a microphone at NFL league meetings on Tuesday and spoke about Jones and Mason.
On Jones, he noted, “I think the big thing we learned about Aaron Jones last year is he can be an every-down back. He was a featured part of our offense. But what we wanted to make sure that we were doing is we were using him in a way that allowed him to be his most impactful self, which is early down run/pass game.”
“He’s got third-down value. I don’t think people give him enough credit for his pass protection, either when we’re dropping back or third downs, but when he has historically had that 1-A, 1-B backfield structure, he could be a total game-changer every time he touches the ball.”
Jones represented an immediate and vast improvement over Alexander Mattison, the man showcased as the 2023 RB1. However, Jones is a seasoned veteran, and not many envisioned such an every-down workload for the 30-year-old.
“So it was always about bringing Aaron back, huge leadership role on our team,” O’Connell said about re-upping with Jones for two more seasons.
O’Connell on His New RB Jordan Mason
O’Connell added even more detail about the Mason trade: “Jordan Mason was a guy we played against last year. Really felt him in a zone run scheme with kind of gap complements like the Niners do. We really felt what we were looking for was right before our very eyes: a heavy runner, slash runner, tough to tackle, gets in space and has burst and explosion to finish runs.
“And also a guy that probably doesn’t get enough credit in his pass protection and just every down versatility. So we really aren’t pigeonholed into any one particular scheme, or, you know, in the run or pass phase.”
The Vikings traded a 2026 6th-Round pick to San Francisco for Jones, along with a late-round pick swap last month. A few days prior, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah obtained that same 6th-Rounder from an Ed Ingram trade to the Houston Texans.
In the end, it was basically Ed Ingram for Jordan Mason, a universally praised swap by purple fans.
“But I do think Jordan’s going to bring something to the table in those short yardage situations, those goal line situations, goal to go, where we’ve really left a lot to be desired as a football team, and that starts with me to make sure we improve in that area, because we certainly have improved personnel wise,” O’Connell added about his new tailback, Mason.
“I think Kwesi (Adofo-Mensah) would have a better feel for the totality of it, but I do remember it was not a quick process. It was something that we were trying to figure out what made most sense for both sides.”
Lessening Jones’ Workload
Jones experienced more touches in the Vikings’ 2024 offense than in any season of his career. The Green Bay Packers notoriously never handed Jones a total RB1 bellcow workload from 2017 to 2023, but in Minnesota, the Vikings said, “Here ya go,” to Jones.
The only problem? Most 30-year-old halfbacks should trend away from career highs in touches.
Therefore, to preserve Jones’ peak form, Mason came along via trade. The best of both worlds.
Admiration for Mason
O’Connell also mentioned his club’s side-eyeing of Mason last year. Minnesota defeated San Francisco in September 2024, and the Vikings’ coaching staff evidently fell in love with Mason.
One item stood off the page from O’Connell’s musings: Minnesota relishes running backs who pass block. Not all do so, and current RB3 Ty Chandler might be buried on the depth chart because his pass protection is suspect.
In Jones and Mason, O’Connell will employ, showcase, and exalt two pass-protecting running backs — that can just so happen to field an every-down profile due to trustworthy pass protection.
Don’t Rule Out a Rookie RB
It’s worth noting that this year’s running back class is totally alluring. Over 30 tailbacks could be drafted in seven rounds, with even more finding new teams via undrafted free agency.
Just because Adofo-Mensah traded for Mason and already has Jones at the top of the ticket does not rule out a rookie running back in three weeks. The Vikings can have their cake and eat it, too.
Names to monitor? Probably men with late-round stock like Brashard Smith (SMU), Damien Martinez (Miami), Bhayshul Tuten (Virginia Tech), and Dylan Sampson (Tennessee), to name a handful.
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