The Green Bay Packers entered the summer with a lot of uncertainty at the running back position. Ahead of NFL free agency, it appears that the front management has made crucial decisions regarding its top running backs on the roster.
On the eve of the NFL free agency tampering period, running backs A.J. Dillon and Emmanuel Wilson are expected to reach the open market. Losing both would leave Green Bay with only starter Aaron Jones on the depth chart, and his future with the team remained unknown.
Jones, who will be 29 years old in 2024, is projected to have the second-highest cap hit among running backs. Green Bay wanted to add impact talent in free agency, so the front staff approached Jones about a wage cut. However, the Pro Bowl running back was not assured to agree, raising the possibility of him becoming one of the Packers’ cap victims.
Aaron Jones’ contract: $17.575 million cap hit and $11.1 million salary in 2024.
According to Matthew Berry of NBC Sports, he learned during the NFL Combine that Green Bay had decided to keep Jones for the 2024 season. The Packers’ leading rusher will not play for another team in 2024, despite the possibility of a renegotiated contract.
However, the same cannot be true of Dillon. Dillon, a fan favorite in Green Bay due to his charisma and community service, is slated to leave the Packers this offseason. While he’s leaving, the Packers apparently want to re-sign Wilson and offer him a bigger role next season.
Jones struggled with durability in 2023, finishing with only 656 rushing yards in 11 games. However, the 5-foot-9 running back performed admirably down the stretch. In his final three regular-season games, Jones averaged 119.3 running yards per game and 5.68 yards per carry. In two postseason games, he accumulated 247 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns.
