Green Bay Packers fans are definitely familiar with Aaron Jones, and they've been able to follow the second act of his career with the Minnesota Vikings.
Entering his third season in Minnesota, Jones has displayed the same leadership qualities and on-field performance that made him a fan-favorite in Green Bay, but it appears he drank a little too much of the purple Kool-Aid based on his assessment of rookie running back Demond Claiborne.
While discussing the differences between the collegiate and the professional game, Jones mentioned the size and speed along the defensive line. But as he talked about that, he also compared Claiborne to Detroit Lions star Jahmyr Gibbs, which should be enough to have Packers fans rolling with laughter.
"I just let him know, hey, it opens and closes a lot faster," Jones said after Wednesday's practice. "But he has the speed to trail-blaze and get through there. Honestly, it looks a little bit like Jahmyr Gibbs in terms of that speed and that burst. So I'm excited to see it as well."
Packers fans shouldn't worry about Aaron Jones's lofty comp for Demond Claiborne
Packers fans have the right to be skeptical. A sixth-round pick out of Wake Forest, Claiborne ran for 2,599 yards and 26 touchdowns during his four-year collegiate career and caught 51 passes for 394 yards and two touchdowns over his final two seasons. He also ran a 4.37 time in the 40-yard dash and was called "a diet version of De'Von Achane" by The Athletic's Dane Brugler.
The hiring of Frank Smith, who was Achane's offensive coordinator with the Miami Dolphins last season, as the Vikings' assistant head coach, may reveal some of the reasons why the Vikings are high on Claiborne. But looking at Gibbs, there's more than just speed.
Since entering the league in 2023, Gibbs ranks seventh in rushing yards (3,580) and third in rushing touchdowns (39). He's also one of the league's best multi-purpose players, ranking third among running backs in receptions (181), receiving yards (1,449) and receiving touchdowns (10).
Packers fans know that it's not impossible for a late-round running back to make an impact like Jones did as a fifth-round pick out of UTEP in the 2017 draft. But he didn't post his first 1,000-yard season until 2019 and hasn't reached the same level of success that Gibbs has had with the Lions.
In all likelihood, Claiborne isn't a player the Packers will have to worry about when they visit the Vikings in Week 1 and potentially throughout his rookie season. And with the Vikings comparing him to one of the best backs in the NFL, it's clear that Jones and his teammates may be just as delusional heading into 2026.
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