Vikings Re-Sign First Major Free Agent
The Minnesota Vikings’ free-agent process began this weekend, starting with safety Theo Jackson’s return for two extra years and trekking through Sunday afternoon with Aaron Jones re-signing in the Twin Cities.
Vikings Re-Sign First Major Free Agent
Jones will retain his RB1 job with the Vikings for 2025, although the club is still expected to draft a running back in April.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted, “Minnesota is getting back its back: Aaron Jones is re-signing with the Vikings on a two-year, $20 million deal that includes $13 million guaranteed, per sources. The deal was negotiated by Drew Rosenhaus.’
“Aaron Jones started all 17 games in his first season with the Vikings, rushing for a career-high 1,138 yards and adding 408 receiving yards with seven total touchdowns.”
Had the Vikings held off on Jones’ extension, tailbacks like Javonte Williams, J.K. Dobbins, Najee Harris, and Rico Dowdle, among others, would be available Monday.
With Jones back in the house, this is the Vikings’ 2025 RB room, at least for now:
- Aaron Jones
- Ty Chandler
- Zavier Scott
Jones tabulated 1,546 yards from scrimmage in 2024, the second-most of his eight-year career. He also earned the most touches in a single season since he turned pro in 2017. His 7 touchdowns and overall consistency helped the purple team win 14 games in 2024 — a season when oddsmakers only expected the franchise to win six or seven.
“This is an excellent place. This is where I hope to finish my career,” Jones told the Pioneer Press earlier in January about the purple team.
He wasn’t kidding.
Pioneer Press’ Dane Mizutani also asked Jones if he was proud of playing every Vikings game last season. Jones noted, “Oh, definitely. I missed a handful of games and played through injuries as well, and with that, I guess the narrative got out that I was injury prone. It’s been nice to slash that narrative and throw it out the window. The guys know whatever I go through throughout the week, I’m going to be ready.”
Minnesota’s rushing offense ranked 20th in the NFL last year per DVOA, a climb from 27th the season prior. Onlookers hope Jones, plus a rookie RB to be named later, will nudge that 20th placement closer to the Top 10 in 2025.
Jones is now the league’s sixth highest-paid halfback as of March 9th, but that pecking order could change next week in free agency.
The Vikings entered free agency with about $63 million to spend on free agents and have allotted $16 million [per season] to the aforementioned Jackson and Jones.
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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 MIN 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.
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