If you were to list teams who could trade for San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason, the Minnesota Vikings probably wouldn't have been all that high on said list. But on Saturday night they got it done, acquiring Mason for what amounts to a sixth-round pick in 2026.
The two teams will also swap picks in this year's draft, with San Francisco getting pick No. 160 and Minnesota getting pick No. 187, while Mason will get a two-year deal from the Vikings after the 49ers had tendered him as a restricted free agent.
Free from the salary cap shackles of the Kirk Cousins era, the Vikings have aggressively filled roster voids in free agency. A running back to pair with Aaron Jones remained a void as the first week of free agency wound down....then came the trade to acquire Mason.
Mason is young (25, 26 in May) with a skill set that ideally complements Jones. Mason finished third in the league in Rushing Yards Over Expected per attempt last season (according to Next Gen Stats). On short yardage attempts (1-3 yards to go), Mason averaged 5.3 yards per carry with 13 first downs on 23 attempts. In those same situations (1-3 yards to go), Jones averaged 2.9 yards per carry with 23 first downs on 42 attempts. As a team the Vikings also averaged 2.9 yards per carry on those short yardage rush attempts last season.
Mason also faced stacked boxes (eight-plus defenders) at the second-highest rate in the league last year (33.3 percent), compared to Jones facing stacked boxes at an 18.4 percent rate.
Acquiring Jordan Mason removes urgency for Minnesota Vikings to draft a running back
The Vikings sorely lack draft capital this year. As outlined by ESPN's Field Yates, the Mason trade maintained the previous status quo of just four total picks.
Minnesota’s updated 2025 draft picks:
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 16, 2025
Round 1: 24th overall
Round 3: 97th overall
Round 4: 139th overall
Round 6: 187th overall
As things stand, the Vikings are the only team with just 4 picks.
It had felt like the Vikings would use one of their two top-100 picks on a running back. Cam Akers is a free agent and now a virtual lock to not be back, while Ty Chandler has become a non-entity (56 carries last season). Mason now fills that void alongside Jones.
There's a case for the Vikings to still take a running back from a deep draft class at the position this year. It just won't be on Day 1 or 2 now, as they are in the enviable position to just take the proverbial "best player available" with each of their 2025 picks,