The Minnesota Vikings had a tremendous 2024 season until it all came crashing down in Week 18. Resurgent quarterback Sam Darnold turned into a pumpkin, looking bad against the Detroit Lions in the regular-season finale and the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round.
Now, Darnold is gone, and J.J. McCarthy is set to take over the role at the center. The Vikings have made some great upgrades in the free agency, and one of them was acquiring Jordan Mason to pair him with Aaron Jones, making up for a fiery running back room.
However, both Mason and Jones had an impressive season last year. So, how does head coach Kevin O’Connell plan to use them?
Vikings HC Claims Jordan Mason’s Addition Will Address Glaring Need
The Vikings ranked 19th in rushing yards per game during the 2024 regular season at 109.1 despite a 1,000-yard season from Jones, who saw his 10+ yard carry rate decline in a significant way for a second straight season (9.8%, down from 10.6% in 2023 and 14.6% in 2022) due to his fewest yards per carry gained after contact since 2018.
There’s some natural decline to expect for an RB entering his age-30 season, but the addition of Mason via trade gives the Vikings the potential to run more effectively.
“We really felt what we were looking for was right before our very eyes,” O’Connell said of Mason trade. “You know, a heavy slash runner, tough to tackle, gets in space and has burst and explosion to finish runs. And also a guy that probably doesn’t get enough credit in his pass protection and just every-down versatility.”
“I do think Jordan’s gonna bring something to the table in those short-yardage situations, those goal-line situations, goal-to-go, where we’ve really left a lot to be desired as a football team.”
#Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell on “1b” Jordan Mason:
“I do think Jordan’s gonna bring something to the table in those short-yardage situations, those goal-line situations, goal-to-go, where we’ve really left a lot to be desired as a football team.” pic.twitter.com/sOrk2XwDOE
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) April 1, 2025
Jones was a free agent this offseason, but the Vikings offered him a two-year, $20 million deal, with O’Connell arguing that he could be a game-changer.
“When he has historically had that 1a, 1b backfield structure, he could be a total game-changer every time he touches the ball. So it was always about bringing Aaron back — huge leadership role on our team; really assumed that from Day 1.”
Jones was a reliable ball carrier, rushing for a career-high 1,138 yards and five touchdowns and adding 408 yards and two scores through the air. His retention and Mason’s addition means we should see some improvement in Minnesota’s rushing yards per game rankings. It would also meant that the Vikings won’t be looking for a RB in the early rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft unless a generational prospect like Ashton Jeanty drops to them.