The talented star assumed the starting running back role for the 49ers when Christian McCaffrey was sidelined by injury. On the same day that San Francisco re-signed longtime backfield contributor Kyle Juszczyk, reports emerged that the team had decided to trade another key element of their rushing game.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the 49ers are sending their top rusher of the 2024 season, He, to the Minnesota Vikings just days after extending him a second-round tender as a restricted free agent. In the proposed trade, San Francisco will send him along with their sixth-round draft pick (No. 187) in next month’s draft in exchange for the Vikings’ fifth-rounder (No. 160) and a sixth-round pick in 2026.
Jordan Mason, a 25-year-old running back who emerged as the team’s primary ball carrier during most of the 2024 campaign after McCaffrey missed the first two months due to Achilles tendinitis in both legs, has now inked a two-year contract with the Vikings. The deal is reported to pay him a minimum of $7 million per year, with potential earnings of up to $12 million.
Throughout the 2024 season, Mason made a significant impact on the ground. In the absence of McCaffrey, he consistently produced, recording over 100 rushing yards and a touchdown in three out of the first four games. He finished the season with a total of 789 yards on 153 carries. However, his role changed when McCaffrey returned; Mason relinquished the starting job during a November 10 win over Tampa Bay. Later, in a snowy and lopsided loss in Buffalo on December 1, both he and McCaffrey suffered season-ending injuries—the latter’s return was thwarted by his ongoing issues, while Mason endured a high ankle sprain.
This trade marks a significant roster shift for the 49ers as they look to recalibrate their offensive strategy, especially with the ever-changing health status of their key running backs. The move also reflects the evolving value of a versatile rusher like Mason, who, despite showing promise and productivity when given the opportunity, now finds himself part of a larger strategy by Minnesota to bolster their own backfield.
