If the Vikings are unable to trade running back Aaron Jones or defensive tackle Javon Hargrave by the start of the 2026 league year on March 11, they will release those players, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Jones’ release would generate $7.75MM of cap space, and cutting Hargrave would free up an additional $10.9MM.
We heard last week that Minnesota is shopping Hargrave in the hopes of shedding his salary and earning some form of draft compensation. The 33-year-old signed a two-year, $30MM contract last March, and $4MM of his $14.2MM base salary for 2026 is guaranteed. While a release would generate notable cap savings, it would also create $10.5MM of dead money, so it is easy to see why the Vikes prefer a trade.
In his first (and apparently only) season in Minnesota, Hargrave started 15 games and registered 3.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. Since the rest of his 2026 salary does not lock in until September, the club does have some time to work out a deal, but it sounds as if it wants to act quickly here. After all, as of the time of this writing, the Vikes are roughly $45.5MM over the cap, per OverTheCap.com.
Jones, 31, just finished his second Vikings campaign. After enjoying perfect attendance in 2024, the longtime Packer played in just 12 games in 2025 due to a hamstring injury, and his performance dipped across the board. He ended the year with 132 carries for 548 yards and two touchdowns, adding 28 catches for 199 yards and a score. His 4.2 yards-per-carry rate was the lowest of his career.
Still, teams with an RB need will surely be interested in Jones’ services, particularly since he has a track record of significant contributions on the ground and through the air (though it is unclear whether a trade market will form). After parting ways with Jones, the only running back under Vikings control for 2026 will be Jordan Mason.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert views defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and center Ryan Kelly as other potential cap casualties.
What are the Vikings going to do witb TJ Hockenson?
I’d be for Jonesey coming home to GB. Unlikely of course, but I’d be for it.
Why? So he can compete for the backup job who won’t play because of injury? I’m a packers fan too but imo the pack will be wasting their money on jones
He’s lost power and struggles to stay healthy. He could be a RB gadget guy for commanders or Steelers
Vikings should look into Allegier that would be a nice fit•
I think they might want more of a home run threat.
Both
I never understand why a team would let it be known that they plan to release a player if a trade doesn’t materialize. It seems like that can do nothing but drop (if not completely eliminate) any trade value the player has.
Because in situations like this everyone already knows it’s going to happen anyways. When the Vikings resigned Jones last year everyone knew he wouldn’t play out the 2nd of that contract and that he would either be cut or resigned to a new contract. This is just doing the respectful thing to the player so they can get a jump on finding a new team. Teams trade for these players simply to avoid a bidding war with other teams once they’ve been released.
The Vikings are going to be a puzzlingly team this off season