The Minnesota Vikings swung and missed Monday on a top free agent running back who could have replaced Aaron Jones following two successful years with the franchise.
Minnesota was in on former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr., per Dianna Russini of The Athletic, but fell shy of the $52 million he got from the New Orleans Saints over a new four-year deal.
“The Saints are signing former Jaguars running back Travis Etienne, per sources,” Russini reported on X. “The Jacksonville Jaguars wanted to retain the Louisiana native. The Broncos and Vikings were also interested.”
The Jacksonville Jaguars wanted to retain the Louisiana native. The Broncos and Vikings were also interested.
Etienne, now 27 years old, has been in the NFL for five years.
He missed his rookie campaign due to a foot injury but has been durable since, playing full regular seasons in three of the last four years and eclipsing 1,000 yards every time.
Etienne’s down season came in 2024, when he tallied just 558 rushing yards and two scores. But he came back strong in 2025, putting up 1,107 yards on the ground at a clip of 4.3 yards per haul and scoring seven touchdowns. He added 36 receptions for 292 yards and six TDs in the pass game.
That dual-threat production, plus the strong running back market this spring, combined to raise Etienne’s salary floor, which may have been a major factor in why the Vikings didn’t rise to meet the offer of $52 million from New Orleans — even despite the need to replace Jones in the offensive backfield.
Vikings Still Have Jordan Mason to Lead Running Backs Room
GettyRunning back Jordan Mason of the Minnesota Vikings.
Minnesota still has Jordan Mason in the backfield, who put up a strong season as a rusher in 2025 with 758 yards and six scores on 4.8 yards per carry.
However, the team’s pursuit of Etienne indicates that the Vikings potentially see Mason as a RB2. Minnesota can always pivot to the pursuit of a third-down back and a quality receiving option out of the backfield to complement Mason, and move forward with that kind of pairing next season.
But Etienne was a high-end member of the free-agent class at the position who can play all three downs and do everything from the RB spot. Other options like him could prove tough to find at this point, with the Kansas City Chiefs locking up Kenneth Walker III and the New York Jets using the franchise tag on Breece Hall.
Aaron Jones Could Rejoin Packers This Offseason
GettyMinnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones.
As for Jones, there is a reasonable chance that he ends up staying within the division, as several analysts have linked him to a potential reunion with the Green Bay Packers.
Jones, who will play next season at 32 years old, spent his first seven campaigns in Green Bay. The Packers will keep Josh Jacobs for at least the third year of his four-year deal in 2026, but Jones could serve as a viable No. 2 behind Jacobs, who suffered injury concerns down the stretch last year.
Jones battled some injury problems himself over two years in Minnesota, though he was liked and respected as a locker room leader who put up nearly 2,300 yards from scrimmage and scored 10 touchdowns across 29 games played for the Vikings.
Vikings Fall Short on $52 Million Replacement for RB Aaron Jones