In 24 hours, the Minnesota Vikings‘ offense underwent a major transformation.
The latest move arrived Tuesday morning when the Vikings reportedly agreed to sign running back Aaron Jones to a free-agent deal. Jones was released by the Green Bay Packers on Monday afternoon.
Vikings Continue Offensive Overhaul With Aaron Jones Signing
Jones’ deal with the Vikings is for one year and $7 million, according to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero.
The two sides reached an agreement roughly seven hours after Minnesota reportedly landed quarterback Sam Darnold on a one-year, $10 million contract. Whether Darnold will be Minnesota’s starting QB in 2024 remains to be seen. Of course, these moves won’t be official until the legal tampering period ends on Wednesday.
But we know it won’t be Kirk Cousins, who left the Vikings on Monday after reportedly agreeing to a four-year, $180 contract with the Atlanta Falcons.
Darnold, the third overall pick from the 2018 NFL Draft, is an intriguing low-risk, high-reward option for the Vikings. However, Minnesota earned the No. 11 overall pick in this year’s draft, and multiple reports indicate the franchise would like to trade up and select its next franchise QB.
So, there’s a chance Darnold spends next season as the backup. But if the Vikings come up empty in their search for a QB, or a rookie isn’t ready to start Week 1, Darnold is a capable starter with plenty of experience.
As for Jones, he joins Minnesota following seven great seasons with the Packers. The 29-year-old appeared in 11 games last season, rushing for 656 yards and two touchdowns to go along with 30 catches for 233 yards. He could split carries with Ty Chandler, who is coming off a solid sophomore campaign.
Neither Jones nor Chandler will compete for time with Alexander Mattison, who was recently released.
Will these moves be enough to appease star receiver Justin Jefferson, who has been the subject of mounting trade rumors? We’ll just have to wait and see.
Who Are Top Free Agent RBs Still Available?
Most of the top free-agent running backs now are off the board. In addition to Jones, we’ve seen reported agreements from Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard, D’Andre Swift, Austin Ekeler, Antonio Gibson, and Devin Singletary — among others.
So, who’s left? Here’s a rundown:
- Derrick Henry
- Joe Mixon (released Monday)
- Ezekiel Elliott
- J.K. Dobbins
- Alexander Mattison
- A.J. Dillon
- Kareem Hunt
- D’Onta Foreman
- Cordarrelle Patterson
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Henry and Mixon are the class of that group. But Ezekiel Elliott still has something left in the tank after a quality season with the New England Patriots, and Dobbins remains uber-talented despite his injury issues.
KEEP READING: Joe Mixon Landing Spots
That said, teams might want to act quickly if they need help at running back. The speed at which running backs are coming off the board is one of the early top storylines of NFL free agency.
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