Bleacher Report Names Best Team Fit for Aaron Jones
The Minnesota Vikings will reportedly release Aaron Jones next week if it cannot find a trade partner — it probably won’t find a trade partner — meaning the 31-year-old will need a new employer. According to Bleacher Report, that team should be the Washington Commanders.
Washington’s depth chart, Dan Quinn’s style, and Jones’ skill set line up if Minnesota indeed chooses a clean break this offseason.
The Commanders have Jacory Croskey-Merritt tentatively on deck for RB1, but Jones would provide solid depth.
Washington’s Backfield Could Open the Cleanest Lane for Jones
Jones is on the cusp of finding his third NFL squad.
BR: Best Fit for Jones Is WAS
Jones will be a salary cap casualty for the Vikings, and BR’s Alex Kay sized up the best landing spots for those style players in free agency.
On Jones, Kay explained the Washington fit, “Jones would fit well with the Washington Commanders as an early-down, tone-setting rusher who can identify holes and hit them with power, generating consistent offense and moving the chains.”
“The Commanders may have Jacory Croskey-Merritt in the mix, but the breakout rookie is best deployed as a dynamic change-of-pace option who can provide the lightning to Jones’ thunder in a backfield platoon.”
Another Vikings personality recently joined the Commanders: coach Daronte Jones, who got his first crack at an NFL defensive coordinator job this season in the nation’s capital.
Kay added about Jones, “Washington was missing a competent running mate for Croskey-Merritt last year, having traded Brian Robinson Jr. before the 2025 season kicked off and subsequently losing Austin Ekeler to a season-ending injury in Week 2. Jones would be an ideal starter who could handle approximately 10 touches a game to keep defenses honest and set the table for Croskey-Merritt home runs.”
A Signing Fitting Washington’s M.O.
In 2024, Washington — out of nowhere — raced to the NFC Championship, led by rookie passer Jayden Daniels. How’d they do it? Well, Daniels’s efficiency paved the way, but after him, the heavy-hitters were largely older veterans.
The Commanders have a knack for acquiring older players — they’re not afraid of it — evidenced by Bobby Wagner, Austin Ekeler, Frankie Luvu, and Marshon Lattimore, to name a few. This is what Washington does when it needs roster depth.
Crosky-Merritt is, of course, still quite young, but as a stabilizer, Jones would do the trick, as he’ll turn 32 in December.
Other Fits?
Considering his history and current roster situations, several teams could be potential destinations for Aaron Jones.
Pittsburgh seems like a natural fit. The Steelers are now led by Mike McCarthy, Jones’s former head coach in Green Bay. Adding to the familiarity, the new PIT offensive coordinator, Brian Angelichio, previously coached tight ends for the Vikings, and Frank Cignetti Jr., a senior offensive assistant for the Steelers, once served as the Packers’ quarterbacks coach in 2018, working with Aaron Rodgers, who is also a former teammate of Jones and may be the Steelers’ QB1 again in 2026.
Furthermore, with running back Kenneth Gainwell entering free agency, Pittsburgh has an opening for a veteran presence in its backfield. The Steelers’ existing familiarity with Jones could facilitate a smooth transition.
Jacksonville also presents an appealing option. With Travis Etienne, their current RB1, likely seeking a new contract elsewhere, the Jaguars might elevate Bhayshul Tuten after his promising rookie season in 2025. Behind Tuten, LeQuint Allen Jr. lacks significant experience, leaving the offense in need of a proven veteran like Jones. Grant Udinski, Jacksonville’s offensive coordinator, previously worked with Jones as Minnesota’s assistant quarterbacks coach in 2024. Jacksonville’s need for a reliable runner and the potential for available touches alongside Tuten make it an attractive destination for Jones.
Finally, a return to Green Bay remains a possibility. After seven seasons with the Packers, Jones has a strong connection with the fans. Should he seek a new team, the Packers could bring him back as the RB2 behind Josh Jacobs. The familiarity between Jones and the organization would make this reunion a straightforward move.
The Vikings’ Plan without Jones
Jordan Mason is tentatively in line to assume RB1 duties for the 2026 Vikings, but it’s early in the process. From free agency, Minnesota could ink the aforementioned Etienne, Kenneth Walker III, or Rico Dowdle — the big-name options.
In the draft, assuming Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love flies off the board before pick No. 18 — he probably will — men like Jadarian Price (Notre Dame), Emmett Johnson (Nebraska), Jonah Coleman (Washington), Nick Singleton (Penn State), and Mike Washington Jr. (Arkansas) will be available between Round 2 and 4.
In all likelihood, Minnesota will grab a rookie runner this go-round. They haven’t drafted a productive one since the days of Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison, and that was in 2017 and 2019, respectively.
The Vikings will face the Commanders at U.S. Bank Stadium in 2026.
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