Vikings make smart move by adding RB who played for NFC North rival

Former Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones has agreed to terms on a one-year, $7 million deal with NFC North rival Minnesota, The Athletic's Dianna Russini and Alec Lewis reported Tuesday morning.

The deal comes one day after Green Bay's agreement with former Raiders RB Josh Jacobs.

For the Vikings, the addition of Jones is smart. With the departure of quarterback Kirk Cousins for Atlanta, Jones' skills as a runner and receiver out of the backfield will be a massive boost to whoever emerges as Minnesota's starter at QB. 

The quarterbacks under contract on Minnesota's roster are Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall, although the team is expected to add Sam Darnold to the mix as well. None of those QBs are proven NFL starters and Darnold has had mixed results at best, so in the event the Vikings roll with any of them at QB1, skill-position players will need to do all they can to lighten the load. 

Jones, 29, is entering his eighth NFL season, and despite dealing with injuries in 2023, he finished the season with five consecutive 100-yard rushing games, including two in the playoffs. 

Jones is clearly an upgrade as a receiver over any other back on Minnesota's roster. In 2023, he finished with the same number of receptions (30) as Minnesota's Alexander Mattison despite playing in five fewer games. 

Some Vikings fans may have reservations about signing an older running back coming off of an injury-riddled season, but Jones rebounded from those setbacks.