Jordan Mason made headlines in Week 3 with an impressive two-touchdown performance against the Cincinnati Bengals, helping the Minnesota Vikings to a 48-10 victory. Acquired earlier in the offseason, he was rewarded with a two-year contract extension and has lived up to it so far.
As Mason looks to cement his role as Minnesota’s RB1, let’s take a closer look at his 2025 salary and the story behind his move from the San Francisco 49ers.
Jordan Mason’s NFL Contract
Mason, a Georgia Tech alum, went undrafted in 2022 before signing a $2.5 million UDFA contract with the 49ers. Despite the uphill battle undrafted players often face, he carved out a role for himself in San Francisco’s competitive backfield.
Playing behind a star like Christian McCaffrey limited his opportunities for significant carries. Still, Mason consistently showcased his physicality and reliability when called upon, compiling 1,253 rushing yards and seven touchdowns over three seasons.
That production was enough to draw interest from the Vikings this offseason. Minnesota traded a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick for Mason, sending back a 2025 sixth-round pick in return. Upon arrival, the Vikings gave him a two-year, $10.5 million extension, including $7.2 million guaranteed.
For context, the 49ers had previously placed a second-round tender on Mason, guaranteeing him $5.3 million in 2025. Mason’s contract with Minnesota also includes performance incentives:
- Per Game Active Bonus: $10,000 ($170,000)
- Rushing Yard Incentives/Escalator
800: $200,000
900: $350,000
1,000: $500,000
Mason was initially expected to share carries with Aaron Jones Sr. in Minnesota’s backfield, and he did just that in Weeks 1 and 2, totaling 24 carries for 98 yards. However, Jones suffered a hamstring injury in Week 2 and was soon placed on injured reserve.
Mason Steps Up in Jones’ Absence
In Week 3, Mason took over as the Vikings’ starting running back and wasted no time staking his claim to keep the role full-time, with a massive performance that ranked fourth among all backs. He ran for 116 yards on 16 carries and scored two touchdowns against the hapless Bengals, as Minnesota ran away with a 48-10 win.
In Week 4 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he rushed for 57 yards on 16 carries, averaging 3.6 yards per carry. He also had three receptions for 15 yards. Heading into Week 5, Mason is ranked as the seventh-best running back in the league based on PFSN’s RB Impact metric.
These performances, along with his 2024 output, should spark significant fantasy interest, especially with Jones sidelined until at least Week 8. Mason totaled 880 scrimmage yards last year, surpassing the combined total of his first two seasons (258 and 237 yards in Years 1 and 2), showing what he can do with an expanded workload (164 carries in 2024).
While the Vikings are unlikely to dominate as easily in upcoming matchups as they did in Week 3 and will face more formidable defenses, Mason is well-positioned as a reliable starter moving forward. If he exceeds 1,000 rushing yards this season, Minnesota may seriously need to consider another contract extension before 2026.
