The Minnesota Vikings needed to upgrade their running game in the worst way and they did so by signing Aaron Jones to a one-year contract. In doing so, they massively upgraded the position from what they had in Alexander Mattison last season.
Jones was excellent for the Packers to end the 2023 season, but he missed time which ended up being a major hindrance to his season as a whole. Pro Football Focus' Thomas Valentine isn't concerned with it though, as he ranked Jones as the eighth-best running back in the NFL.
Jones has been one of the most underrated running backs in the NFL for some time now. In his final season with the Green Bay Packers, the former UTEP running back earned a 76.1 grade in an injury-plagued season, but when he was on the field, Jones rushed for 656 yards and two touchdowns at a clip of 4.6 yards per carry. The fact that that’s a career low for Jones is a testament to his efficiency.
Jones thrived at creating yards after contact, too. His 3.16 yards after contact per attempt number ranked 14th in the NFL, and he forced 26 missed tackles in just 11 games.
The Vikings are hoping that Jones does the same thing for them in 2024 and potentially beyond.
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