The San Francisco 49ers traded running back Jordan Mason and a sixth-round draft pick (No. 187) to the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday night for a fifth-rounder (No. 160) and a 2026 sixth-rounder, according to league sources.
Mason then agreed to a two-year, $12 million contract with the Vikings, according to a league source. The deal includes $7 million guaranteed.
Why they made the deal:
Last week, the 49ers used a second-round tender on Mason, a restricted free agent, so they would have been on the hook for his $5.346 million salary under those terms. Obviously, neither the Vikings nor any other team were prepared to give the Niners a second-round pick to sign away Mason, so the 49ers took what they could get.
The Niners have been shedding salary this offseason, partly acknowledging the need to reset the roster while also clearing a path to extend quarterback Brock Purdy. With running back Christian McCaffrey set to return and the 49ers’ strong track record of drafting and developing running backs, it’s understandable why they decided to shift gears.
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The Vikings, who still have some questions to answer at quarterback, can use insurance in the offensive backfield behind veteran Aaron Jones — who landed a two-year, $20 million extension from Minnesota earlier this week. Mason broke out in his third season with 789 yards and three touchdowns in 12 games while filling in for McCaffrey. Before McCaffrey returned in Week 10, Mason’s 685 rushing yards ranked fourth in the NFL.
Jones will likely remain the lead back, but it’s wise to protect the 30-year-old while also creating a formidable 1-2 punch when they’re both healthy. Plus, Jones did endure some fumbling issues last season, so a proven backup will be important if ball security continues to be a question.
Vikings trade grade: B+
The Vikings moved down 27 spots in this year’s draft to acquire Mason and a sixth-rounder next year. That’s pretty solid.
This isn’t the type of trade that will win anyone a Super Bowl, but it’s important to have as much depth as possible around a (presumably) young quarterback. Mason more than held his own amid the 49ers’ offensive chaos last season, so his trajectory is pointing upward.
If there’s a nitpick, it’s that this is a strong running back draft class. But Mason has experience with the type of run scheme he’ll see in Minnesota and should be viewed as more of a sure thing than a rookie, so there’s peace of mind for a team that expects to be a playoff contender in 2025.
Jordan Mason is a truly exquisite zone runner pic.twitter.com/BdhliKMyaV
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) September 17, 2024
49ers trade grade: C+
The Niners are playing the long game this offseason.
Sure, it’s natural to look at the second-round tender and wonder why the Niners accepted a less valuable package, but it’s fair to believe they understood Mason would have trade value. Don’t view it as losing a second-rounder. Look at it as a mild upgrade with a Saturday draft pick.
But for a team shedding salary, was it necessary to take this elaborate route just to trade Mason? Debatable.
The bottom line is the 49ers moved a good player for minimal draft gains and financial relief. They’ll probably do just fine replacing Mason in the draft because that’s how they’ve operated over the years.
#49ers‘ draft picks for 2025:
1st round, No. 11
2nd round, No. 43
3rd round, No. 75
3rd round, No. 100
4th round, No. 113
4th round, No. 138
5th round, No. 147
5th round, No. 160
7th round, No. 227
7th round, No. 249
7th round, No. 252— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) March 16, 2025
(Photo by Stephen Maturen / Getty Images)