MARCH 13: The pay cut the Packers offered checked in south of what Jones will make with the Vikings. Green Bay proposed slashing Jones’ $11MM 2024 base salary to less than $4MM, per The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, with $2MM in incentives dangled. The Vikings are giving Jones a $6MM base salary on a deal that includes $1MM in incentives.
After Jones agreed to a $5MM pay cut in 2023 — in exchange for 2023 guarantees — Schneidman adds the seven-year veteran did not want to take another reduction in this range. Although Jones will end up taking a cut from his original 2024 salary number, he lessened the damage by leaving for the Vikings, who will give him an opportunity to remain a starter.
MARCH 12: Aaron Jones‘ time with the Packers is up, but he will remain in the NFC North in 2024. The Pro Bowl running back has agreed to a one-year, $7MM deal with the Vikings, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report. 
Green Bay attempted to work out a pay cut with Jones to ensure his time with the team continued. No agreement could be reached, however, and the team pivoted by releasing him and agreeing to terms with Josh Jacobs on a four-year, $48MM deal. The latter will carry the load moving forward with his new team, but plenty of touches will be available for Jones in Minnesota.
Jones was due to earn $12MM in 2024 on his Packers contract, but the team wanted him to take a 50% pay cut. It will be interesting to see how this Vikings deal is arranged with respect to guaranteed money as a result. In any case, today’s agreement comes as no surprise, given a Monday report indicating Minnesota was eyeing Jones on a deal which can be finalized at any time since he was released.
The 29-year-old topped 1,000 rushing yards three times during his seven-year stint in Green Bay. Jones has also been a notable contributor in the passing game during his career, recording between 395 and 474 yards through the air each season from 2019-22. He was limited to 11 games last season, however, and as a result his production fell considerably (889 scrimmage yards, three total touchdowns). His 4.6 regular season yards per carry average was also the lowest of his career.
In much better shape from a health perspective down the stretch, however, Jones showed flashes of his old self in the postseason. The former fifth-rounder racked up 226 yards and three touchdowns across the wild-card and divisional rounds, suggesting he could remain a productive lead back in the future. He will certainly have the opportunity to do so with Minnesota, given the team’s decision to move on from Dalvin Cook last offseason as well as his RB1 replacement (Alexander Mattison) last month.
The Vikings’ offense will of course look much different under center with Sam Darnold (or a passer added in the first round of April’s draft) in place as a Kirk Cousins replacement. Minnesota ranked fifth in the league with respect to passing yards per game in 2023 – despite the time Cousins missed with an Achilles injury – but only 29th on the ground. Jones and the team will look to improve in the latter regard during what will be a transition year in Minnesota.
Looking for revenge.
All Summer sixteen
turn down 6 million for 7 million and no chance at playoffs as a 30 year old RB with injuries good move Jones
what does injuries have to do with it, you’d think one would want more money being injury prone, great move. also helps to go somewhere that you’re actually wanted
He must have seen Saquon’s contract and thought the market was better than it was…
He is the only RB there so he will get his carries and its still more money than GB offered. Smart move by him.
It was $4 million with incentives. Who knows if Jones could hit incentives with Jacobs around.
Another strong performer done dirty by the Pack front office. Can’t root for the Vikings, but hope he runs all over GB this year.
I love when fans can’t set aside emotion and feelings for business. Not everyone is wired to be upper management. Clearly, you’re not.
Watching Green Bay actively refuse to get Rodgers help was down right pitiful. That wasn’t a business decision that was outright disrespectful to constantly avoid getting him help towards the end of his career via draft and free agency especially at receiver.
Any business that treats employees like Green Bay did Rodgers towards the end I hope fails miserably and endures life long debt issues.
That’s weird considering he took Lazard and Cobb to the Jets with him. Wanted the Jets to get Adams. Had a top 5-10 RB for years with Jones. If he needed all that “help,” why did he want all his GB teammates with the Jets?
You’re asking why a QB wants to play with guys he’s familiar playing with? Yeah that’s a tough one to answer.
So you’re saying he wanted Wilson already on jets and to bring in Adams Lazard and Cobb? Huh almost like he wanted ANOTHER receiver?
Also. How’d Lazard do last couple years? Any 1,000 seasons? Pro bowls? Cobb?
Huh almost like they’re better suited for 3rd 4th options not 1,2 or 2,3 respectively
Proved my point for me. Thanks. Adams and Jones weren’t enough offensively. They needed another receiver opposite Adams with Lazard and Cobb down the depth chart
My completely missed the point. You were saying GB never have him help. But when he left, he wanted all those guys with him in New York. They must have been GOOD ENOUGH to bring along.
Furthermore, look what Love did with young, inexperienced WRs? Actually, the youngest group of WRs/TEs ever. He showed up and got reps with them and they eventually succeeded. Unlike Rodgers who consistently never showed up to OTAs or worked out with the talent they gave him. It’s laughable that the Packers “disrespected” Rodgers with the skill position players they gave him. Give me a sizable break.
Good enough for 3rd 4th receiver yes.
Not 1 or 2 which they were in Green Bay.
“Look what Jordan Love did!”
You mean with a player in Jaylon Reed as the focal point on offense who wasn’t there when Rodgers was? Nor was Dontayvion Wicks. You’re counting guys producing who didn’t play with Rodgers why exactly?
Look. Come back when you’re ready to actually contribute to the discussion. Not come up with BS that makes your argument look bad like “how come Rodgers couldn’t succeed with Jaylon Reed and Dontayvion wicks!”
FYI. Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs didn’t take steps forward in year two. They were outplayed by rookies. Those were the receivers Rodgers had.
Point still stands. Green Bay did not give Rodgers an actual #2 receiver opposite Adams multiple years in a row they needed.
Oh yeah JAYDEN Reed and Wicks who was drafted in the 5th. Again, give me a break. I’m a lifelong packers fan and rodgers is my favorite player of all time. But you ppl gotta drop this “help rodgers” nonsense. GB drafts and develops players like few other teams. You were prob one of the ppl that wanted Adams cut after a couple years too. They gave him plenty. If you want to have the discussion that the defense let him down, that’s a different story.
I never said round mattered. They could have drafted better or signed free agents.
But two seasons Watson and Doubs haven’t produced anything but 3rd 4th tier production. Busts.
Life long packer fan. Yeah no bias at all in your responses.
Point still stands. Packers failed to get Rodgers an actual #2 opposite Adams’s they needed.
Vikings always love an Ex-Packer.
As a Lions fan the North got a whole lot tougher. Still though the Vikings are a wildcard. Not sure how the QB situation is going to be. Do they draft a QB in round one or two or stick with Darnold? They do have the best WR in the league hands down.
they are drafting a qb, this is a very stacked QB class compared to next years
No it’s not, there maybe two who have futures. Stacked class was the one Elway came from.
next year’s class is shedear sanders and thats it lmaoooo
He’s done. Every Defense will make Darnold beat them and just stack the line.
If they draft a rookie, chances are they play to rookie. Darnold offers nothing beyond holding the clipboard
If you stack the line you leave JJ or Addison in single… even Darnold could look good with that defensive plan. Not saying it’s going to work out with Darnold but if any situation was catered made to make a big armed inaccurate QB look good it’s leaving JJ in single.
Hopefully the revamped O-line can create holes. Darnold is being given a lot to work with so far. It’s on him and coaching, a good QB would have no problem with JJ, Addison, Hock and jones/chandler
It’s very possible, even likely, that he will carve up the Packers 2 times this year. Also possible the vikings win both games but miss the playoffs while the packers lose both and still make it.
With, at best, a rookie QB, I don’t think GB has to worry even if he gets 200 yards a game. They may have a better way to kill the clock but the passing game is where the wins come these days.
The vikings just love taking guys the packers discard.
Favre, longwell, Zadarius, and now Jones.
Loved how hones played…when healthy.
Glad we are 3 years younger now and 15 pounds heavier which could mean more durability maybe?
Just hope Dillon signs anywhere else today so I can rest easily knowing he won’t be on the team.
Unless Jones is going to somehow help the ragamuffin Vikings defense….this signing won’t even register as a blip on the radar by October.