The Minnesota Vikings and running back Aaron Jones reportedly agreed this week to give themselves more time to hammer out a deal before the start of free agency.
According to ESPN's Field Yates, the two sides decided to move the void date in Jones' contract from Monday to the final day before the start of NFL free agency next month.
Had Monday come and gone with the original void date intact, it would have cost the Vikings $3.2 million in dead money against the salary cap in 2025.
Moving the void date gives the Vikings and Jones additional time to work out a contract for next season, and doing so would allow them to avoid the dead cap.
Per ESPN's Kevin Seifert, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said last week that he hopes the team can get Jones under contract for next season.
Jones, 30, spent his first seven NFL seasons with the Green Bay Packers before getting released to make room for Josh Jacobs.
He was a highly productive player during his time in Green Bay, recording 5,940 yards and 45 touchdowns on the ground to go along with 272 receptions for 2,076 yards and another 18 scores.
Jones had three 1,000-yard rushing seasons with the Packers and was named a Pro Bowler for the first and only time in 2020.
The NFC North rival Vikings jumped at the chance to sign Jones to a one-year deal in free agency last offseason, and it was a move that paid dividends for both parties.
Jones started all 17 games for the Vikes last season, setting career highs in carries (255) and rushing yardage (1,138). He also scored five rushing touchdowns and caught 51 passes for 408 yards and two scores.
With Jones as the lead back, the Vikings were one of the most pleasant surprises in the NFL, going 14-3 and reaching the playoffs.
Given that Jones has now crossed the age-30 threshold, Seifert suggested that he could move into more of a timeshare next season if he re-signs with the Vikings.
Ty Chandler is the only running back under contract next season for Minnesota, and while he only rushed for 182 yards and no touchdowns on 56 carries last season, he was far more effective in 2023, rushing for 461 yards and three scores with a yards-per-carry average of 4.5.
Of course, the Vikings could always re-sign Jones and use a draft pick on a running back, which would allow them to split work in 2025 before the draft pick eventually takes over as the clear starter down the line.
Regardless of the Vikings' plan on that front, it is clear that Jones fits well in O'Connell's offense, so it is easy to understand why the organization seems to have interest in bringing him back.
