Minnesota kept Aaron Jones for 2026, but his age and injury history could still push the Vikings to target a young running back in the draft.
There was speculation that the Minnesota Vikings could sign a running back when the "legal tampering" period opened on Monday. According to Alec Lewis of The Athletic, Minnesota was "intrigued" by Travis Etienne before he agreed to a four-year, $52 million deal with the New Orleans Saints.
In a somewhat surprising move, the Minnesota Vikings agreed to a revised contract with Aaron Jones on Wednesday. The deal reduced his base salary from $9 million to $5.5 million in 2026, keeping the Vikings' 1-2 punch with Jordan Mason intact.
Jones is a well-rounded back who can produce in the run and pass game. He is also a willing blocker in pass protection. On top of that, he is a well-respected locker room leader.
But the move still came as a surprise. First, it was reported two weeks ago that the Vikings would release both Jones and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave before the start of free agency if they couldn't facilitate trades for either player.
Jones is also older, turning 32 next December. The running back dealt with hamstring and shoulder injuries throughout the season, only playing in 12 games and twice playing 20 or fewer snaps.
In all, Jones had 160 touches for 747 yards, leading to a career-low 4.7 yards per touch. He only scored three touchdowns, tying a career-low set in 2023.
The signing suggests the Vikings are trying to ensure they enter the draft without feeling pressured to select a running back. If they didn't bring back Jones and missed out on other free agents, Minnesota may have felt forced to address running back earlier than it wanted out of fear of missing out again.
But does that mean the Vikings shouldn't draft a running back this year? Jones' age suggests this is likely his final season in Minnesota. Mason, while effective (159 runs for 758 yards and six touchdowns in 2025), has never carried a full workload.
Jones' injury history also suggests his availability could be limited, even if his on-field production remains solid.
So, who could the Vikings add in the draft to solidify their running back room, giving them a young, inexpensive option not only for 2026 but for the future?
Generally, experts believe Notre Dame teammates Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price are the top two running backs in the draft. Mock Draft Database's Consensus Big Board ranks Love as the draft's sixth-best prospect and Price as the 51st-best.
Assuming Love is long gone, the Vikings may not feel compelled to go after Price in the second round with so many other needs.
However, they could find value in a running back in the third round. Minnesota owns the 82nd and 97th overall selections, potentially putting them in range to get Arkansas' Mike Washington (ranked 71st) or Nebraska's Emmett Johnson (ranked 90th).
Despite standing 6'2", 205 pounds, Washington was the fastest running back at the Combine, running an official 4.33 forty-yard dash. He ran 167 times for 1,070 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025.
Johnson didn't have the explosive combine numbers like Washington, but he performed well in the Big Ten in 2025, rushing 251 times for 1,451 yards, both conference leaders.
Washington's Jonah Coleman (ranked 101st) or Penn State's Nick Singleton (104th) could be other options in the late third round as well.
The Vikings released several veterans in recent weeks, but they valued Jones' versatility and leadership. But that shouldn't prevent them from adding a running back altogether in the draft if they see potential value when they are on the clock on Day 2.