The 2026 offseason will be one of change as the Minnesota Vikings aim to avoid wasting the talent on their roster after a 9-8 record and a missed postseason appearance.
That means there could be some surprising cuts and not-so-surprising departures from the Vikings as they retool the roster for the new year. Recently, NFL.com's Matt Okada named Minnesota running back Aaron Jones as a cut candidate for the Vikings this offseason.
"I labeled Jones as a cut candidate two years ago. And while he was very good in his first year in Minnesota, the veteran running back struggled a bit in 2025, posting a career-low 4.9 yards per touch and scoring three touchdowns in 12 games.
He also averaged just 2.8 yards after contact per carry and a 9.1% explosive run rate (also career lows). Jones turned 31 in December and has always thrived on his explosiveness, an area in which a downturn is expected with aging backs.
Cutting him frees up $6.8 million in cap space for a team currently $40.1 million in the red. This feels like a bit of a no-brainer."
Aaron Jones named a top candidate to be released by Minnesota Vikings in 2026
Jones is entering the final year of his two-year contract, but the Vikings would need to act quickly if they wanted to save good money on his release.
If they release him before March 13, they would save $8 million against the cap; if they wait until after, that drops to $6 million. A pre-June 1 trade would save them even more money at $10 million, according to Spotrac.
Last season was a forgettable one for Jones, who posted the worst season of his career with 132 carries for 548 yards and two touchdowns statistically. His 4.2 yards per carry in 2025 was the worst he has ever done in the last nine years.
Minnesota got a lot more production out of Jordan Mason, who could be seen as at least one of the top two running backs of the future. Jones's dip in production was a cruel reminder that the Vikings need to draft better or find a younger free agent running back to take his place.
This isn't an indictment on Jones, as he could very much be a solid backup running back for a lot of teams in the NFL, but the Vikings need more from a guy who missed five games last season. The Vikings need someone who can be available and can improve as the season goes on.
If the trade could happen, that would be ideal for the Vikings, but moving on from Jones regardless feels like the right move to make sooner rather than later.