Vikings Showing Interest in Former Packers RB Aaron Jones

The Minnesota Vikings have had one of the most eventful openers to the 2024 NFL negotiating period of any team in the league on Monday. On defense, they’ve made some pretty significant additions, agreeing to terms with three expected starters, EDGE rusher Jonathan Greenard and linebackers Andrew Van Ginkel and former Gopher Blake Cashman.

Obviously, I buried the lead because the Vikings also lost out on the Kirk Cousins sweepstakes today, when he agreed to terms on a contract with the Atlanta Falcons. They’ve answered by offering a contract to former No. 1 overall pick, Sam Darnold. Obviously, they’d be looking to draft a QB high in the draft too, even if Darnold does sign.

Minnesota Vikings showing interest in Aaron Jones

But no matter who is vying for Vikings QB1, come training camp, it’s clear they want him to have better running backs to hand the ball off to than Alexander Mattison & Co. That’s why, according to Dianna Russini (The Athletic) they are showing interest in former Green Bay Packers star RB, Aaron Jones.

The Vikings have shown interest in Jones, who is now free to sign with any team, sources tell The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.

Jones, who turned 29 in December, took a $5 million pay cut last year, but his camp was unwilling to match the pay cut the Packers wanted this time.

The Athletic

Jones is 29-years-old, which is grandfather age in running back years. But after taking a $5 million pay cut last offseason, he wasn’t willing to take another one this year. So, the Packers signed Josh Jacobs on Monday instead… and Jones could be crossing the border to Minnesota.

Aaron Jones has been one of the better running backs in the league over the last handful of years… when healthy. He’s gone for over 1,000 yards in three of the last five years, but not in 2023, when he only played 11 games, rushing for 656 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Related: Dalton Risner, Vikings Have Mutual Interest in Reunion

Nonetheless, he has a 5.0 YPC average, a number that has never dropped below 4.6 YPC in any of his seven NFL seasons. Even at 29 y/o, there is no doubt Jones would give the Vikings a backfield punch they haven’t had since Dalvin Cook left.

Future Houston Texan Aaron Jones?? 😎 pic.twitter.com/Pmgjx1WwI2

— big ounce (Texans script writer) (@_bigounce) March 11, 2024