BREAKING: Vikings RB Aaron Jones Sends Clear Message on ‘Different’ $21 Million QB
The Minnesota Vikings are preparing to hand over control of their 14-win team from last season to second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Although McCarthy didn’t see any action during the 2024 regular season, starting running back Aaron Jones has full confidence in him.
Jones, who rejoined the Vikings on a two-year, $20 million deal in free agency, pointed to McCarthy’s winning background as a key reason for optimism.
McCarthy, the 2024 College Football Playoff National Champion, has a proven track record, Jones said.
“He’s a winner,” Jones stated during an appearance on Good Morning Football on April 10. “From high school to college, he’s only lost one game in his career. I think there would’ve been a legit quarterback competition if he hadn’t been injured. He’s wired differently—he’s a competitor, he’s driven, and he’s hungry. You’ll see that when he hits the field.”
“He’s extremely methodical in his approach,” the Vikings’ star running back said during his Good Morning Football appearance. “Even though he didn’t get on the field this past season, he spent his time studying — he made a list of every defensive player in the league and ranked them.”
“He’s fully locked in,” the running back added. “I’m excited to share the backfield with him, take some handoffs, and catch some passes from him too.”
McCarthy enters his second season on a four-year, $21.8 million rookie deal, providing the Vikings with valuable roster flexibility.
J.J. McCarthy to Benefit From Vikings 1-2 Punch of Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason RB
McCarthy is expected to benefit from the Vikings’ plan to use a two-back system with Jones and Jordan Mason, whom they acquired in a 2025 offseason trade.
“The Vikings have Jones slotted as their starting running back, having paid him $20 million over two years to keep him, which is more than they spent to bring Mason from the 49ers and pay their new backup. However, Mason isn’t expected to be a typical backup,” ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reported on April 6.
“Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has been clear, both before and after Mason’s arrival, that he plans to reduce Jones’ workload after Jones posted career highs in snaps (700), rushing attempts (255), and total touches (306) last season.”
“Mason will take some series off Jones, but O’Connell has hinted at additional roles for Mason, especially in areas where the Vikings have historically struggled.”
In 2024, the Vikings ranked 14th in rushing attempts with Sam Darnold at quarterback in his seventh season. Adjusting their run-pass ratio could prove beneficial for the team.
Vikings Beefed Up Offensive Line
The Vikings have made several key moves this offseason to support McCarthy, Jones, and Mason in 2025. They earned praise for signing former Indianapolis Colts offensive linemen Ryan Kelly and Will Fries in free agency.
The Vikings are hoping these additions will improve their performance, having ranked 18th in pass protection and 16th in run blocking, according to Pro Football Focus.
ESPN’s Benjamin Solak described the Vikings’ free agency approach as that of “true contenders.”
“I loved their investment in the offensive line. Fries was one of my top free-agent picks — he’s one of the best players nobody knows about, and he could make a real push for a Pro Bowl spot at guard if he fully recovers from his tibia injury,” Solak wrote on March 26.
Solak also noted that while he initially expected the Vikings to stick with Garrett Bradbury at center, despite his pass protection issues, they instead took a step typical of contenders by upgrading not just their weakest positions, but also the average ones. Solak acknowledged the risk, as Kelly (31) is older than Bradbury (29), but he saw it as a good move.
With a strong supporting cast of playmakers, including Jones, the Vikings are well-positioned for a young, inexperienced QB like McCarthy to succeed.