With the Minnesota Vikings $40.1 million over the cap in 2026, the team has to make some tough decisions with players under contract.

One of those tough decisions comes in the form of running back Aaron Jones, who is a clear cut candidate entering the final year of his $20 million contract.

Jones is coming off his least productive campaign since his rookie year and he was slowed by injury that limited him to just 12 games. Things don’t figure to get any better for Jones as he prepares to turn 32 in December and we believe that Minnesota will indeed cut him loose.

If you ask Matt Okada of NFL.com, he agrees that Jones is a cut candidate for the Vikings this offseason and thinks it’s a no-brainer decision for Minnesota.

Here’s Okada’s thoughts on a possible Jones release:

I labeled Jones as a cut candidate two years ago. And while he was very good in his first year in Minnesota, the veteran running back struggled a bit in 2025, posting a career-low 4.9 yards per touch and scoring three touchdowns in 12 games. He also averaged just 2.8 yards after contact per carry and a 9.1% explosive run rate (also career lows). Jones turned 31 in December and has always thrived on his explosiveness, an area in which a downturn is expected with aging backs. Cutting him frees up $6.8 million in cap space for a team currently $40.1 million in the red. This feels like a bit of a no-brainer.

If Jones does indeed hit the open market this offseason, three teams that could have interest are the Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals.

The Lions have sported one of the best one-two punches at running back in recent years with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.

However, general manager Brad Holmes made no promises about Montgomery’s future in Detroit and he could be cut or traded this offseason.

If that happens, the Lions would need another back to take some of the load off Gibbs and Jones is someone who makes sense for that role.

The 49ers utilized another veteran behind Christian McCaffrey in Brian Robinson Jr. in 2025, but Robinson is a pending free agent and may not be back.

Like the Lions with Gibbs, the Niners need someone who can help take pressure off McCaffrey and keep him fresh and Jones would check that box.

In Arizona, the Cardinals have a very murky situation at running back.

James Conner is an obvious cut candidate and the jury is still out on Trey Benson. If Conner gets the boot, adding Jones as insurance for Benson is logical.

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