Aaron Jones
Getty
The Vikings have agreed to a restructured contract with Aaron Jones after initially planning to release or trade him
The Minnesota Vikings have spent the early portion of the offseason trying to find ways to create salary cap space. This has resulted in several players getting released or having their contracts restructured. Other guys have popped up on the trade block, with veteran running back Aaron Jones falling in that category.
Before free agency, reports emerged indicating that the Vikings intended to either release or trade Jones in an effort to free up more cap space. With the beginning of the new league year right around the corner, though, Minnesota has reversed course when it comes to Jones’ future with the team, resulting in a surprising move involving his contract situation.
Vikings Restructure Aaron Jones’ Contract
Tom Pelissero
The Vikings and RB Aaron Jones have agreed to a revised contract to keep him in Minnesota for the 2026 season, sources tell me and @RapSheet.
Jones lowers his base salary to $5.5 million and will stay in Minnesota.
Last offseason, Jones signed a two-year, $20 million contract extension with the Vikings, but the deal was backloaded, making it significantly more difficult for the team to keep him around for the 2026 season. Jones struggled with injuries in 2025, but even when he was on the field, his production took a step back, so it wasn’t all that surprising to see the team plan to move on from him.
It’s tough to find a trade partner when you reveal you are planning on releasing a player, and sure enough, Minnesota struggled to find any takers for Jones. From a financial perspective, it makes sense as to why the front office wanted to trade Jones, as it would have saved them $9.75 million in cap space, rather than $7.75 million if he were to be released.
Neither of those things will end up happening, though. The Vikings continued working on a reworked deal with Jones, and it appears they have found common ground right before the start of the new league year. Reports indicate that Jones’ base salary has been lowered from $9 million to $5.5 million for the 2026 season, which will help ensure he spends at least one more year in Minnesota.
“The Vikings and RB Aaron Jones have agreed to a revised contract to keep him in Minnesota for the 2026 season, sources tell me and Ian Rapoport,” Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported in a post on X. “Jones lowers his base salary to $5.5 million and will stay in Minnesota.”
Vikings Solidify Running Back Room for 2026 Campaign
Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers
GettyAaron Jones #33 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up before the game against the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
It seemed like, regardless of whether he was traded or released, Jones’ time with the Vikings was up. Instead, he accepted a pay cut to stay with the team, which will surely make Minnesota happy. With Jordan Mason also in the fold, the team will retain its one-two punch at the running back position from last season.
The front office still has a lot of work to do this offseason, with the biggest decision of the bunch likely revolving around the quarterback position. To this point, Kyler Murray has remained heavily linked to the team, and it feels like only a matter of time until he finds his way to Minnesota. Anything can happen in the NFL, though, meaning his status will be worth keeping tabs on over the next few days.