Aaron Jones Signing Dubbed Best Value Add of NFL Free Agency

A year ago, NFL conversations were fixated on the gradual devaluation of running backs. The theory is that paying veterans such as Aaron Jones isn’t worth it because you can always draft a low-cost replacement with fresh legs.

This mindset set the 2024 free agency class up for an explosion of veteran options hitting the open market and brought the cost of such difference-making talent down to such a clearance rack price that even the most forward thinking front offices couldn’t say no.

Minnesota Vikings can’t say no to bargain bin prices on free agent running backs

From versatile threats with superstar potential like Saquon Barkley to downhill freight trains like Derrick Henry; we’re talking offense-changing star power that could be had for ~$10 million per season, the same price that the Vikings paid their bridge QB, Sam Darnold.

Even “second-tier” options like former Packer, Aaron Jones, offered an upgrade at running back for just about every team in the NFL at a bargain bin rate of $7 million per season, which is what he signed with Minnesota for. At that price, even the most analytically sound general managers, like Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, saw the incredible value Jones offers a Vikings offense that desperately needs more production out of the backfield.

“We get the conversation about running backs and age and different things like that. But I think, as you’ve seen this year in the market, maybe that dynamic has gone a little too far to the other side, and teams are realizing that there’s still really good players [at running back]. That they’re valued, and it’s a position where you can really upgrade performance at a pretty efficient [price].”

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah (quote via ESPN)