Vikings RB Aaron Jones Offers a Message to New Draft Picks
In March, things appeared dicey for Aaron Jones and the Minnesota Vikings.
Word had circulated that the team was going to move on, but there was an 11th-hour resolution where the veteran agreed to a pay cut to stick around the Twin Cities. The veteran is back for a minimum of one more season.
I spoke with Jones at the Vikings’ draft part at U.S. Bank Stadium. Naturally, the conversation worked into the 2026 NFL Draft. What was his message to those who were being drafted late? How do you have a ten-year career, become a starter, and go to the Pro Bowl? Aaron Jones has done all of those things.
Check out some of his response: “It’s make the most of every opportunity. That opportunity could be an opportunity to get into the cold tub, the opportunity to get in a hyperbaric chamber, extra stretching session. Just maximizing your resources that are there for you.”
Aaron Jones Offers a Message to the Rookies
Sometimes, players (and coaches) fall victim to standard football lingo.
Everyone talks about being tough, working hard, and being a team-first player. Some of that is worked into the Jones answer, but I tend to trust his sincerity. And, to be sure, the proof is in the pudding. Not the fastest, the largest, nor the highest picked, Jones has been in the NFL since going in the 5th of the 2017 NFL Draft. Clearly, he has something figured out.
His ideas about the young fellas taking care of their body makes sense. Note that he’s talking about that as someone who is in his early 30s and not his early 20s. Maybe some of that insight has been hard earned, but the point remains that the incoming talent would be wise to soak it up from the start of their careers.
What’s also of note from his answer was his emphasis on the NFL being a business. Again, that’s the sort of saying that’s so general and overused that it has been hollowed of its meaning, but he offered further clarity to add nice insight to what he means.
Per Jones, the rookies are “always being evaluated, whether [they] know it or not.” That much is obvious when they’re in practice or playing in a game, but it goes beyond that. The way these guys carry themselves in the building matters. In meetings, it’s vital to be able to demonstrate an understanding of one’s responsibilities within specific plays. Doing so builds trust from the coaches – key to getting onto the field – while proving that work is being done to digest the playbook.
Kick it over to Aaron Jones for these precise ideas: “Even when you’re sitting in the meeting room, and they ask you a question, I’m going to show them that I’m ready, I’ve been in my playbook.” Further from Jones: “I feel like a lot of it comes down to trust.”
Being able to “show your value” is what’s now needed from the incoming talent, especially with the margin being thinner for a late-round player than a 1st-Round player.
Think of things this way. Tearing it up in college means earning a ticket to get into the NFL. Now that the rookies have done so, there’s now a new challenge, something else that needs to be earned. Being in the NFL is just the beginning; the focus now turns toward earning a roster spot alongside a job on Sunday. That could be on specials or possibly by getting worked into either of offense or defense. Some may even work into the starting lineup.
Aaron Jones, 31, is coming back in 2026 as a co-favorite to be the Vikings’ top running back (Jordan Mason is competing with him). At the very least, he’ll be an excellent option on 3rd down as one of the NFL’s most underrated receiving backs. He’s a strong pass blocker and can still move the ball on the ground, so he helps keep the Vikings unpredictable.
Rookies would do well to follow the veteran’s example, mirroring his habits to arrive at a better chance of overcoming the modest expectations that are imposed on Day 3 players.
The 2026 NFL Draft finishes off today.
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