The big money often dominates NFL free agency headlines. Kirk Cousins and his astounding four-year, $180 million contract stood out, but Christian Wilkins (4 years, $110 million), Brian Burns (5 years, $141 million), Jaylon Johnson (4 years, $76 million), and others received plenty of attention.
The Vikings’ signings were no exception, with Jonathan Greenard’s four-year, $76 million contract sparking plenty of digital ink.
However, the Aaron Jones trade may have gone unnoticed, both locally and nationally. The former Packers running back is older and on a one-season contract. The overall financial commitment is barely $7 million, but Kwesi Adofo-Mensah made a savvy decision by enrolling the young runner.
Before free agency began, the Vikings released Alexander Mattison. This freed up $3.35 million in cap space.
Jones’ cap charge of $3.5 million in 2024 is essentially a dollar-in, dollar-out scenario. Taking a bite out of next year’s money to fund operations is part of the cost of doing business; the 2025 budget is expected to include a $3.2 million dead money penalty. Even so, it’s a fairly good deal for Minnesota’s general manager.
In a previous PurplePTSD column, Bryce Lazenby gave the Vikings an A+ for the Jones choice. Lazenby is impressed by the money, as well as the efficiency and production: “Jones has had no trouble finding the end zone throughout his career. Jones has a career average of 5.0 yards per run and is one of the league’s most prolific receiving backs.
Injuries hampered Jones’ 2023 season, but his numbers remained impressive. The RB converted 142 carries into 656 running yards and two rushing scores. Jones played in each of the 17 games in 2022. His 213 carries yielded 1,121 running yards and two touchdowns.
