On March 1, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that, barring a trade, the Minnesota Vikings planned to release running back Aaron Jones Sr. and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave at the start of the new league year. The new league year began on Wednesday at 4 p.m. EST.
Jones agreed to a revised contract to stay with the Vikings for 2026, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport. But Hargrave is moving on from Minnesota as expected.
On ESPN’s NFL Live, Schefter reported that Hargrave had been released by the Vikings and will sign with the Green Bay Packers on a two-year, $23 million contract.
Dan Orlovsky’s immediate on-air reaction was to say, “Huge for Green Bay. That was a massive hole for their football team and their defense - defensive interior, defensive tackle. Very good addition. Hargrave is still a good player. Mina Kimes added, “I just love when teams make [signings] like this that give them a little bit more flexibility in the draft.”
Hargrave’s son was similarly enthused by the news. Hargrave posted a video showing the young boy guessing which team his dad signed with. He threw out the Atlanta Falcons before he was informed the answer was the Packers. He said, “A Green Bay Packer? Let’s go! Yes! I needed this!”
The Packers will be Hargrave’s fifth team since the Pittsburgh Steelers selected him in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. The two-time Pro Bowler played four seasons in Pittsburgh before signing with the Philadelphia Eagles in March 2020. Hargrave moved on to San Francisco for 2023 and 2024. He only played four games in 2024 due to a partially torn triceps, but the Vikings gave him a two-year contract last March.
Last season, Hargrave posted 3.5 sacks, 52 tackles (18 solo), six quarterback hits, and four tackles for loss in 16 regular-season games. For his career, he has 49 sacks, 432 tackles (233 solo), 85 quarterback hits, and 59 tackles for loss.
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