It was a miracle Jones played 17 games last year. I also wasn't interested in locking up a veteran RB early, mostly because I'd like to get IOL/DL free agents signed before they worry about who the veteran RB on the roster will be.
However, even if they draft a rookie RB high, this team almost certainly was going to add a veteran to share the load. While I'm less high on Jones than many Vikings fans, the guys AFTER Jones do look pretty dreadful. I don't know that I'd rally want any of them on the team. We'll see how free agency plays out, but I guess there's a good chance that come July I'll be happy to have budgeted 10M for Jones instead of say 6M for Jamaal Williams or any million for Gus Edwards.