Vikings Have RB Determination to Monitor

The NFL offseason doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and it’s not truthful to have a look at issues via the lens of revisionist historical past. That stated, the Minnesota Vikings opted to bring back Aaron Jones after a career-best season a 12 months in the past.

Aaron Jones is again for the Vikings, however they could have been higher off ready out the Nick Chubb resolution after his new contract.

Not solely did the longtime Inexperienced Bay Packer keep wholesome for all 17 video games, however his 1,138 yards had been the most effective output of his profession. He suffered bumps and bruises all year long, however he was by no means unavailable to his workforce. The Vikings had been in a position to lean on the veteran working again all through the season.

This offseason was an opportunity for Kevin O’Connell to evaluate his roster and determine if there was a must make a unique resolution. Quite than pivot, the Vikings introduced again Aaron Jones on a two-year deal that may very well be price $20 million. They parlayed that call with a commerce for San Francisco 49ers working again Jordan Mason.

To recommend that the Vikings’ working again room is in a greater place this season than they had been a 12 months in the past can be placing it calmly. Cam Akers was a stable backup, however he isn’t Jordan Mason. The issue is that Jones isn’t getting any youthful, and the market could have simply put them on discover.

Nick Chubb signed a cope with the Houston Texans for $2.5 million, and it maxes out at simply $5 million. He’s a full 12 months youthful than Jones, and regardless of coming off damage, there’s motive to imagine he may be more healthy sooner or later than the oft-injured veteran Minnesota tied itself to.

Chubb is just not the dynamic passing recreation risk that Jones may be, however he’s an exponentially extra impactful runner, and he excels at working between the tackles. Houston has loads of former Vikings, and Minnesota employs an excellent variety of gamers who beforehand performed for the Texans. If there’s a working again storyline to observe this 12 months, it’s which workforce made the higher resolution.

The Vikings are going to defend Jones with using Mason. It might not be in any respect stunning to see Chubb be the most effective of the bunch, and it’ll harm to know that the Vikings may have employed him for such a nominal contract determine.

Chubb might want to substantiate himself as a wholesome and constant possibility. The Texans already make use of Joe Mixon, however there’s no questioning which again has been higher when at their finest. It wouldn’t be in any respect stunning to see the previous Browns ballcarrier work his approach right into a beginning function.

Once more, it’s not truthful to look again on the market after it performed out in entrance of us. Nonetheless, although, the upside stays excessive for one franchise whereas the opposite should get essentially the most out of a tandem they tied themselves to.

Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that’s targeted on all issues Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s lively on Twitter and writes every day for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former faculty athlete and avid sports activities fan, protecting our professional groups with a ardour has all the time appeared like such a pure outlet.