Jordan Mason is expected back from a fractured thumb in Week 7 against the Colts, and that alone could shut down any Vikings running back trade talks. Earlier this week, Bring Me The Sports senior Vikings writer Will Ragatz floated the idea that the Vikings might want to beef up their roster, potentially eyeing a running back, left guard, tight end, or safety. But the return of Mason, who missed four weeks, means Minnesota will likely roll with the Aaron Jones Sr.-Mason backfield they originally thought would be dynamic. Honestly, why mess with that if it’s finally healthy?
Why a Trade Still Feels Like a Long Shot (But Here Are the Names Anyway)
Look, the team probably won’t pull the trigger on a running back trade unless Jones or Mason gets hurt again. They survived without Mason, and with him coming back, that trade itch might just be scratched. Still, the NFL trade deadline on November 10 looms, and if things change, some names are floating around. Most of these guys play for teams that could be sellers, which makes them “intriguing” on paper, even if the fit is tricky.
First up, Tony Pollard from the Tennessee Titans. This dude is 29 and has quietly stacked up four straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons. This season, even with a horrible Titans team, Pollard has 63 carries for 278 yards and one touchdown. He’s a free agent next spring, so he could probably be grabbed for minimal draft picks. We’re talking 1,082 yards and 5 TDs in 2024-25, 1,079 yards and 5 TDs in 2023-24, 1,005 yards and 6 TDs in 2022-23, and 1,007 yards and 9 TDs in 2021-22. That’s some consistent production, no doubt.
Then there’s Rachaad White, 27, from the Washington Commanders, on a one-year, $2 million deal. He’s only got 28 carries for 118 yards in four games this season, largely thanks to a Week 4 shoulder injury. This is the same guy who started 48 of 67 games in four years with Tampa Bay, where he piled up 2,656 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground, plus 205 receptions for 1,450 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns. His rushing average was only 3.9 yards per carry in Tampa, but he’s proven he can be a dual-threat. An affordable option if Jones went down, for sure.
Kamara’s Hurdles and Other Potential Backfield Tweaks
Alvin Kamara with the New Orleans Saints is another name, but this one’s got some serious baggage. The Vikings would only owe him the rest of his one-year, $6 million contract, which sounds good. The problem? The Saints would eat a ton of dead cap if they traded him because of how they restructured his deal. Oh, and Kamara himself said back in October 2025 that he’d rather retire and drink piña coladas on a beach than play for another team. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for a trade. Plus, he might be washed, with only 86 yards on 28 carries this season, though it’s tough to tell with the Saints’ run game struggling since Travis Etienne got hurt in Week 1.
Kenneth Gainwell, 27, of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is on a two-year, $14 million deal. He’s mostly a receiving threat these days, with just 17 carries for 44 yards in five games, but 11 catches for 54 yards and a touchdown. Last season, he was a go-to for Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh, hauling in 73 catches for 486 yards and three touchdowns, plus 114 carries for 537 yards and five rushing scores. Finally, Tyler Allgeier, 26, from the Arizona Cardinals, is on a two-year, $12.25 million deal. He’s not much of a receiving threat, so he’d make more sense if Mason was sidelined. His first season in Arizona hasn’t been great, with only 35 carries for 119 yards and a touchdown, averaging 3.4 yards per carry.
So, while the names are out there, with Mason coming back, it feels like the Vikings’ best move is no move at all unless another injury strikes. Keep an eye on that November 10 trade deadline, because you never truly know what teams will do as the clock ticks down.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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