The Minnesota Vikings, who have been on the lookout for a future running back, were fortunate to secure Aaron Jones in March.
In February of the previous year, Alec Lewis from The Athletic reported that the Vikings were very interested in Jahmyr Gibbs and gave him serious consideration during the 2023 draft. After Jones was unexpectedly released by the Green Bay Packers, the Vikings seized the opportunity and quickly signed him to a one-year, $7 million contract, despite him finishing 29th in rushing yards the previous season.
Finding the team’s next star running back is no longer necessary thanks to Jones. He is 30 years old, though, and likely attract a lot of interest in free agency. NFL.com ranked him as the second-best running back available in 2025.
With a lot of roster gaps to cover in the summer, the Vikings might decide to go the less expensive path of selecting a running back in the draft, which would also be a long-term decision.
Ashton Jeanty, a Heisman contender and standout at Boise State, has been more closely linked to the Vikings than any other draft-eligible running back, especially by Luke Easterling, a draft expert for Athlon Sports.
It wouldn’t be surprising if Minnesota looked to the future early in this draft, given that Aaron Jones, now 30, has been a dependable player for the Vikings this season. In a mock draft on December 12, Easterling noted, “This would be especially true if Jeanty, a top-10 talent in this draft class, is still available.” He added, “This season, Jeanty has set records and is a versatile playmaker who meets all the criteria for projecting NFL stardom.”
The Vikings’ Fit With Ashton Jeanty
Jeanty’s footage shows that he has every quality Kevin O’Connell looks for as a running back. His running is explosive. Well out of the backfield, he catches the ball. He has the patience and contact balance of an experienced back, and he can block.
All of these things belong to Jones. The last component of the Vikings’ attack, however, would be to sign a generational running back in Minnesota for the following four seasons.
Jones is nearing the end of his playing days, and around the age of 30, running backs typically experience a sharp decline in output. For either Sam Darnold or J.J. McCarthy, the Vikings may have the most potent offense in the NFL going ahead if they reset at running back.
The Historic Season of Ashton Jeanty
Jeanty, who won this year’s Maxwell Award for outstanding running back in college football, is unmatched. The 21-year-old deserved to be a Heisman finalist because his domination was unassailable no matter what the opponent tried to accomplish.
This season, Jeanty amassed 30 total touchdowns and 2,497 rushing yards, which is the fourth-highest single-season total in FBS history.
He set records for 144 failed tackles forced and 1,889 yards after contact. According to BroncosSports.com, Jeanty encountered loaded boxes a lot—he ran against 7+ box defenders a record 266 times nationwide. He has scored 25 touchdowns and averages 6.9 yards per rush in those attempts.
Jeanty was a model of consistency, becoming the first player since at least 1996 to rush for over 125 yards in 13 consecutive games, no matter what opposing defenses tried to do to stop him.
He was not only difficult to contain but also tough to bring down behind the line of scrimmage. This season, Jeanty recorded more runs of 20 yards or more (24) than runs for a loss (23) combined.
With one of the best careers for a running back in college football history, Jeanty remains a longshot for the Heisman, holding the second-highest odds (+1400) behind frontrunner Travis Hunter (-000) according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The Heisman Trophy ceremony is scheduled for December 13.
