The San Francisco 49ers have moved on from another prominent member of their depth chart. According to a report by Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com, the Niners have traded running back Jordan Mason to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2026 sixth-round selection and a pick swap in this year’s draft that will move the 49ers up 27 spots in the sixth round.
Mason was a restricted free agent who had been given a second-round tender by San Francisco, but he now will ink a two-year deal with the Vikings that includes $7 million in guarantees and has a maximum value of $12 million. The Niners will presumably receive some draft pick compensation in the move.
Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason are the 1-2 punch in Minnesota. The Vikings’ exposure last season to Mason was him rushing for 100 yards and a touchdown. It’s a great landing spot for Mason.
Mason has been a fan favorite since he joined the 49ers as an undrafted free agent prior to the 2022 season. A bruising runner with plenty of speed, Mason took on the lion’s share of rushing responsibilities this past season while Christian McCaffrey was hampered by injuries. In 12 games (six starts), Mason racked up 789 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 153 carries. His 5.2 yards per carry average was incredibly impressive and in line with his production in prior seasons in smaller roles.
Per Over the Cap, the 49ers will save $5.34 million by trading Mason. In a draft that’s projected to be deep at running back, the Niners are likely looking for a running back who can supplement Christian McCaffrey in Year 1 but be healthy enough to carry the torch if the offense needs a reliable backup after McCaffrey.
The Niners have spent this offseason clearing their books, reportedly under direct instructions from team ownership. While it’s understandable that Mason would be another cap casualty, given the team’s investment in McCaffrey, it still furthers a massive overhaul for a team that has added minimal talent so far this offseason.