While the Green Bay Packers have a little work to do as it pertains to the salary cap before the new League Year officially begins on March 11, as they're roughly $4.09 million over the 2026 figure, the Minnesota Vikings have it far worse, as they're more than $45.5 million over the new record-high number of $301.2 million.
As such, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Minnesota has informed veteran defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and former Packers running back Aaron Jones that, barring a trade (which isn't going to happen), they'll each be released. As a result, the Vikings will save $18.65 million against the 2026 cap, although they'll also take on over $17 million in dead money.
Naturally, with Jones all of a sudden on the market, it's difficult not to imagine a scenario in which he ends up back in Green Bay. And while such a scenario doesn't seem likely, it's not completely out of the realm of possibility.
A Packers-Aaron Jones reunion could conceivably work
Now, if Jones, who spent seven seasons wearing the Green & Gold after the Packers took him in the fifth round of the 2017 draft, is looking for a genuine RB1 role, then a return to to Green Bay wouldn't work, as that role is obviously reserved for Josh Jacobs, who's rushed for 2,258 yards and 28 touchdowns over the past two seasons, adding another 624 yards and two scores on 72 receptions.
However, with the Packers making the surprising decision not to tender restricted free agent Emanuel Wilson, the RB2 role is wide open, and it would undoubtedly be intriguing to see what a Jacobs-Jones combo could look like. Plus, Jones is no stranger to sharing touches, as that's exactly what he was doing with Jordan Mason in Minnesota this past season.
Sure, Jones will turn 32 during the 2026 campaign. And he is coming off a down year, one in which he missed five games. Truth be told, it was very similar to what his last season felt like in Green Bay.
That said, however, the UTEP alum obviously isn't far removed from his 2024 season in which he gained a career-high 1,546 total yards from scrimmage, rushing for a career-best 1,138 yards and five touchdowns and adding another 408 yards and two scores on 51 receptions.
So, if Jacobs gets hurt or simply needs a break, Jones could conceivably slide in seamlessly and get the job done. He obviously knows what Matt LaFleur likes to do on offense, and he did get 11 games alongside Jordan Love.
Assuming Jones even wants to come back, the big issue, of course, could be money. He was slated to make $10 million with the Vikings in 2026, and the Packers certainly won't be paying that. But if Green Bay can somehow find a way to get him for maybe half that amount, it could be worth considering instead of going into a very important season with a late-round draft pick behind Jacobs.
Again, the likelihood of a reunion seems pretty low at this point. But you can never say never in the NFL these days, can you?