Recent Vikings Trade Partner Clearly Has Seller's Remorse Over Deal with Minnesota

Coming off a 14-3 record in 2024, the Minnesota Vikings have had an active offseason to make sure they compete for a Super Bowl in 2025. The Vikings spent most of this spring loading up around new starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy and the result was the additions of Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave to make sure they go further than they did a year ago.

While the Vikings seem to be happy with their moves, and potentially could have more on the way, there are some things to be said about the teams that let them go. One of Minnesota’s deals that flew under the radar could be the key to seeing success early this season and his former team may already be having seller’s remorse after trading him away in March.

It Took Just 6 Months for the 49ers to Trade for Jordan Mason’s Replacement

One of the biggest moves for the Vikings this offseason was the trade for Jordan Mason. A bruising runner that specializes in yards after contact, Mason was acquired in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers. While the 26-year-old also signed a two-year, $10.5 million contract upon his arrival in Minnesota, he’s clearly missed in San Francisco after they traded for Brian Robinson Jr. on Sunday afternoon.

Robinson had played his way out of favor despite three productive seasons in the Washington Commanders backfield. He ran for over 700 yards in all three seasons including a career-highs in rushing yards (799), touchdowns (8) and yards per attempt (4.3) last year. But like 49ers didn’t want to pay Mason, the Commanders didn’t want to pay Robinson in the final year of his rookie deal.

That’s where the seller’s remorse comes in for San Francisco. The 49ers had planned to have 2024 fourth-round pick Isaac Guerendo and 2025 fifth-round pick Jordan James back up Christian McCaffrey. But those plans were thrown out the window when Guerendo suffered a shoulder injury and Jordan James suffered a broken finger that required surgery.

Even then, Robinson may not be able to replace what Mason brought to the table. According to Pro Football Focus, Mason was one of the league’s best runners in terms of yards after contact last season, ranking 10th among qualifying runners with 3.35 yards per carry.

Guerendo wasn’t a significant drop off with an average 3.04 yards after contact (24th) and Robinson wasn’t a slouch either at 3.07 yards (22nd). But Robinson comes at the cost of an extra draft pick that was afforded when San Francisco made the trade with the Vikings.

The 49ers wanted to clear money to make way for Brock Purdy’s contract but they still found ways to get deals done with aging veterans George Kittle and Fred Warner. It wouldn’t have been hard for San Francisco to work Mason’s $2.25 million cap number into the books for this season and his $5.8 million for next season with a chance to save $600,000 as a cut before June 1. But the 49ers took the risk of sending him to Minnesota and wound up paying for a McCaffrey insurance plan anyway.

It’s a move the Vikings are hoping to take advantage of this season and could leave 49ers with more seller’s remorse if Robinson doesn’t perform at the same level as Mason this season.