Greener pastures await Aaron Jones.
The Packers dumped their longtime running back after agreeing to a four-year deal with Josh Jacobs. And after a brief spell in the open market, it's been revealed what colors the 29-year-old tailback will wear come 2024.
Jones is headed to the Vikings, having agreed to a one-year, $7 million deal with Minnesota Tuesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
A bruising runner capable of snagging passes out in the flat with regularity, Jones is one of the league's better ball-carriers. His standing as one of the NFL's more productive rushers — Jones has rushed for the seventh-most yards in football since his debut back in 2017 — will give him some legitimacy, even among those wary of the wretched impact of age on a running back's productivity.
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With that, here's what you need to know about Jones' latest contract.
Aaron Jones contract details
Per Rapoport, here's the skinny on the length and value of Jones' latest deal:
- Team: Vikings
- Years: 1
- Value: $7 million
Jones is taking a pay cut from the $12 million the Packers would have owed him in 2024. Such is the case when your productivity declines due to injury. Jones played in just 11 games in 2023, unable to kick hamstring and knee ailments.
Still, Jones is one of the better tailbacks in all of football and was still effective when healthy. He strung together five straight 100-yard games after returning from injury, helping spearhead Green Bay into the postseason.
That was enough for the Vikings to make him one of the wealthier tailbacks in all of football. Jones' average annual value (AAV) of $7 million makes him the ninth-highest-paid running back in the league.
| Rank | Player | Team | AAV |
| 1 | Christian McCaffrey | 49ers | $16.1 million |
| 2 | Saquon Barkley | Eagles | $15.833 million |
| 3 | Alvin Kamara | Saints | $15 million |
| 4 | Jonathan Taylor | Colts | $14 million |
| 5 | Nick Chubb | Browns | $12.2 million |
| 6 | Josh Jacobs | Packers | $12 million |
| 7 | Tony Pollard | Titans | $8 million |
| D'Andre Swift | Bears | $8 million | |
| 9 | Aaron Jones | Packers | $7 million |
| James Conner | Cardinals | $7 million |
Jones' initial contract was identical to the four-year, $48 million pact that Jacobs signed with the Packers. He was in the final season of that deal but carried an expected cap hit of $17.575 million in 2024.
It seems Green Bay preferred to part ways with its aging beauty rather than shell out the money for the longtime Packer.
Jones ends his Green Bay career as one of the sport's most productive tailbacks, averaging five yards a carry while with the Packers. That's tied for the fifth-highest average among running backs in NFL history, alongside Pro Football Hall of Famers Gale Sayers and Barry Sanders as well as All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor.
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Aaron Jones stats
| Year | G | Att. | Rush yds | YPC | Rec. | Rec. yds | Total TDs |
| 2017 | 12 | 81 | 448 | 5.5 | 9 | 22 | 4 |
| 2018 | 12 | 133 | 728 | 5.5 | 26 | 206 | 9 |
| 2019 | 16 | 236 | 1,084 | 4.6 | 49 | 474 | 19 |
| 2020 | 14 | 201 | 1,104 | 5.5 | 47 | 355 | 11 |
| 2021 | 15 | 171 | 799 | 4.7 | 52 | 391 | 10 |
| 2022 | 17 | 213 | 1,121 | 5.3 | 59 | 395 | 7 |
| 2023 | 11 | 142 | 656 | 4.6 | 30 | 233 | 3 |
| Career | 74 | 1,201 | 5,211 | 4.3 | 288 | 2,100 | 47 |
Aaron Jones fantasy outlook 2024
Jones has entered the phase of his career where health will be more of a concern. The 29-year-old dual-threat missed six games last year, but when he did play, he still impressed with 4.6 yards per carry and solid receiving skills. The Vikings will look to utilize both, but how much? Minnesota averaged the fourth-fewest rushing yards per game and just 4.0 yards per carry last year. It's tempting to say that was because of personnel (mediocre RBs, Justin Jefferson/Kirk Cousins injuries, etc.), but the year before was similar (sixth-fewest rushing yards, 4.1 yards per carry). Minnesota simply isn't a great running team under Kevin O'Connell. Will that change with Cousins gone permanently?
It might, but fantasy owners shouldn't expect a big year from Jones. He can be a nice RB2/flex when he's healthy thanks to decent overall volume, but playing for a team with offensive line issues that doesn't emphasize the run won't help him reclaim his past glory. Bump him up a few spots in PPR leagues, but don't expect vintage Jones or Dalvin Cook here. — Matt Lutovsky
