Aaron Jones
Getty
If the Washington Commanders truly want a “Thumper” at running back in 2026, then 1 just came on the market who they would be smart to swoop up if the price is right.
Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay singled out former Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones as the “Best Fit” for the Commanders after he was set to be released in a salary cap move to save the Vikings approximately $7.75 million.
“While the veteran had been a reliable starter for the better part of two seasons, his injury woes and a slight regression, coupled with a sizable cap hit, make it financially prudent to release the running back if a trade doesn’t materialize,” Kay wrote. “Jones shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a place to play in 2026 … 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.”
Commanders’ Head-Scratching RB Trade
The sad thing about the Commanders’ backfield in 2025 is that they were set up to have a really good-to-great season at the position, with a 3-headed monster of veterans Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler, along with electric rookie and 2025 7th round pick Jacory Croskey-Merritt.
Unfortunately for the Commanders, they traded Robinson to the San Francisco 49ers shortly after the start of training camp. Even more unfortunately for the Commanders, Ekeler tore his Achilles tendon in Week 2, forcing Croskey-Merritt into the RB1 role.
The rookie did a valiant job, with 805 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns, averaging 4.6 yards per carry, but even that couldn’t overcome the previous season’s leading rusher, Jayden Daniels, missing 10 games due to injuries.
Still, Croskey-Merritt — who goes by “Bill” — was named Pepsi Rookie of the Week for an NFL-leading 4 times in 2025.
“Not once, not twice, not thrice but, for a 4th time, Jacory ‘Bill’ Croskey-Merritt was named the Pepsi Rookie of the Week,” Commanders reporter Ben Standig wrote on X. “He’s the only rookie to win multiple times this season.”
Croskey-Merritt’s final time winning the honor came after he went off for 105 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on just 11 carries in a 30-23 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Day, including a thrilling, 72-yard touchdown run.
Aaron Jones Has $50 Million in Career Earnings
Jones has been 1 of the NFL’s best running backs for the last decade, 1st for the Green Bay Packers and then for the Vikings, while racking up $50 million in career earnings.
Drafted in the 5th round (No. 218 overall) out of UTEP in the 2017 NFL draft, the 5-foot-10, 208-pound Jones led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns in 2019 for his first 1,000-yard rushing season. He made his lone Pro Bowl in 2020 with 1,104 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns while averaging 5.5 yards per carry.
Jones signed a 1-year, $7 million contract with the Vikings before the 2024 season, then rushed for a career-high 1,138 yards and 5 touchdowns as Minnesota went 14-3.
The Vikings gave Jones a 2-year, $20 million contract before the 2025 season. He responded by missing 5 games and rushing for 548 yards and 2 touchdowns. It was his worst season since his rookie year in 2017.
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