A new report Thursday night regarding how far the Green Bay Packers were willing to go to obtain Jonathan Taylor this season should make one running back that’s on their roster furious. The Packers and Indianapolis Colts were in trade talks about Taylor before the 53-man roster deadline on Tuesday.
A trade for Taylor by the Packers or another team could still occur this season. However, the Colts placed the star running back on the PUP list, and he will miss the first four games of the season.
But the Packers seem willing to spend a lot of cash for Taylor’s services in Green Bay.
The Green Bay Packers were going to pay Jonathan Taylor
According to Josina Anderson with CBS Sports, the Green Bay Packers and Miami Dolphins were willing to make Taylor one of the highest-paid running backs in the league before the 2023 season.
I’m told both the #Dolphins and #Packers were both willing to give RB Jonathan Taylor a contract that placed him among the highest-paid running backs in the NFL entering this season, per source.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) August 31, 2023
The exact cash details were not forthcoming in the report. However, this news could be disheartening to AJ Dillon and Aaron Jones. The first issue is that it doesn’t appear that either one or both of them are in the picture for the Packers’ long term.
Aaron Jones can’t be happy with the report
Jones has more of a reason to be irritated by the report than anyone on the Dolphins or Packers. The 28-year-old running back was in the same boat this offseason with many of his running back colleagues in the league.
The Packers’ Pro Bowl rusher was asked to take a $5 million pay cut after being one of the best running backs in the league. Not only did the Packers’ front office undervalue his services this offseason, but they were also willing to trade precious capital for Taylor and pay him a hefty sum of money.
That feels a little distasteful after how Jones has played in Green Bay and how he has strived to be a leader to his teammates.
It’s not like the Packers can hide and say that’s just the running back market in the NFL now. They were willing to give that money to an outsider.
Ouch.
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