The Kansas City Chiefs are in the mix for a change-of-pace running back ahead of the NFL trade deadline, and the Minnesota Vikings may be putting just such a player on the block.
Aaron Jones was already losing his role as Minnesota’s primary rusher of the football to Jordan Mason early in the season, and then Jones suffered a hamstring strain that landed him on the injured reserve list (IR). As a result of that, and combined with contract issues, Bill Barnwell of ESPN named the veteran running back as one of Minnesota’s two most viable trade candidates on Thursday, October 30.
“The Vikings had only five picks in 2025, and at 3-4, they haven’t looked like a team that can make a deep playoff push this season,” Barnwell wrote. “Moving on from Jones might be more about saving money than anything else. He is owed just over $1 million in 2025 and has $2 million of his $10 million compensation in 2026 guaranteed, a deal the Vikings are likely to move on from this offseason. Would a team like the [Los Angeles] Chargers be willing to essentially pay $3 million to have Jones in its lineup for the rest of 2025?”
The Chargers, one of Kansas City’s AFC West Division rivals, need to add a running back more than the Chiefs do. But at just $3 million, Jones offers real value to the Chiefs as a skilled pass-catcher and pass-blocker who can serve as a third-down back alongside starter Isiah Pacheco.
Aaron Jones Can Offer Chiefs Change-of-Pace Running Back at Good Value
GettyRunning back Aaron Jones of the Minnesota Vikings.
Jones inked a two-year, $20 million contract to rejoin the Vikings in 2025 after landing with the team via free agency the year prior by way of the Green Bay Packers.
He put up a monster season in 2024, tallying 1,546 yards from scrimmage and seven total TDs. However, Jones has played in just three games for Minnesota this season, which has caused his production to dip to a mere 18 carries for 61 rushing yards and five receptions for 59 yards and one touchdown.
Jones turns 31 years old in December and missed six games due to injuries in 2023. But when healthy, he remains a highly productive player and could be so particularly in a bit part with an offense as dynamic as the Chiefs’.
Even if he gets hurt again, the risk is low given his cost. And Kansas City probably could secure Jones by sending Minnesota an early Day 3 draft asset.
Chiefs Could Take Bigger Swing With Trade Offer for Player Like Breece Hall
GettyRunning back Breece Hall of the New York Jets.
Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report suggested on Friday that the Chiefs take a run at Breece Hall of the New York Jets ahead of the deadline.
“Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt aren’t moving the needle in the offensive backfield for a Chiefs team that is clearly all-in right now,” Gagnon wrote. “Adding the league’s fifth-leading rusher midway through a walk year is exactly the idea in a situation like this. It would be worth a late-round pick for Kansas City.”
Hall is a younger, and probably better, player than Jones at this point. However, he is a free agent next March and has a market value of around $10.5 million annually on a new four-year deal, per Spotrac. The Chiefs aren’t necessarily in a long-term position to sign a running back to that kind of a contract, so Jones makes more sense as a cheaper and shorter-term option under the same rationale.
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