The Minnesota Vikings have bolstered their backfield by acquiring running back Jordan Mason from the San Francisco 49ers. The Vikings secured the services of Mason, a restricted free agent, by signing him to a two-year contract potentially worth up to $12 million. The trade involves Minnesota sending a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to San Francisco, with a pick swap in 2025 that allows the 49ers to exchange the 187th overall pick for the 160th. This deal was confirmed by sources with knowledge of the transaction who requested anonymity, as the teams have not officially announced the trade.
Previously, San Francisco had placed a second-round tender on Mason, valued at $5.4 million for 2025. This would have allowed the 49ers to match any offer for Mason or receive a second-round pick in compensation. However, neither Minnesota’s willingness to exorbitantly compensate a backup nor San Francisco’s inclination to part with a second-round pick led to the teams reaching a mutually agreeable trade. Under his new agreement, Mason will receive $7 million as guaranteed money.
Mason, who went undrafted in 2022, proved effective during his tenure with the 49ers, serving as the backup to Christian McCaffrey. He now provides depth for the Vikings alongside Aaron Jones, who recently re-signed with Minnesota on a two-year, $20 million deal. In the previous season with the 49ers, Mason demonstrated his ability, rushing for 789 yards and scoring three touchdowns over 12 games. He achieved an impressive average of 5.2 yards per carry, ranking him fifth among qualifying running backs of the season.
As San Francisco navigates an off-season transition, Mason joins several notable players departing from the team. Among these changes, the 49ers let go of key contributors, traded star receiver Deebo Samuel to Washington, and faced the departure of 11 free agents as they calibrate their roster following a subpar 6-11 season in 2024.
In a contrasting move to their roster changes, the 49ers welcomed back a crucial player, re-signing fullback Kyle Juszczyk to a two-year, $8 million contract. This deal comes after Juszczyk was released earlier in the week and follows his nine-time Pro Bowl achievements with the team. Despite incurring a $3.6 million dead cap charge from his release, San Francisco opted to re-sign Juszczyk on new terms rather than maintaining his previous contract’s $4.1 million salary.
Juszczyk has been a cornerstone for the 49ers since coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch took over in 2017. With his adaptability, Juszczyk has participated in about half the team’s offensive plays during his time with the franchise and has consistently achieved Pro Bowl status. In the past seasons, he accumulated 19 receptions for 200 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 26 yards and a touchdown. Over his tenure with the team, Juszczyk has amassed 1,895 receiving yards, 237 rushing yards, and 19 touchdowns overall.
