In a surprising three-day turn, the Green Bay Packers released star running back Aaron Jones and signed former rushing leader Josh Jacobs to a four-year contract worth $48 million.
This move allows Green Bay to feature a new starting running back for the first time in seven seasons.
Much to fans’ surprise, general manager Brian Gutekunst was able to land the star running back in an offseason that seemed poised for a repeat tandem of Jones and backup AJ Dillon.
However, just one day after the release of Jones, the Minnesota Vikings signed him to a one-year, fully-guaranteed, $7 million deal.
The Vikings already got Aaron Jones a purple sombrero 🤣🤣pic.twitter.com/qTJIAPXZQe
— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) March 18, 2024
Despite Jones’ success year after year, Green Bay aims for a long-term approach to their running back room. Jones is 29 years old after all, at a position where the production of even star players starts to decline at this age.
With the signing of Jacobs, Green Bay not only transitions to a true bell-cow back, but one who is poised to produce at a high level for the next two, even three, years. Recalling back to 2021, Green Bay offered an almost identical contract to Jones, and certainly made the most of it.
But with this new deal, the Packers solidify a workhorse back who they hope can return to elite standards. Per Pro Football Focus, Jacobs posted a career-worst rushing grade in 2023 (70.1), just following a season where he led the NFL with 1,652 rushing yards.
Initially, it seemed ideal for the Packers to once again handle this position with a thunder-and-lightning approach, but the data doesn’t necessarily support this idea.
In games in 2023 where Aaron Jones saw at least 20 offensive snaps, he averaged 108.3 yards and just under one touchdown. Most notably, in each of the final five games of the Packers season, Jones eclipsed 100 yards rushing and 20+ carries.
Dillon, on the other hand, proved to be much less of a thunder to Jones’ lightning, but simply a serviceable backup whose 3.4 YPA in 2023 ranked 53th of 59 qualifying running backs who saw at least 65 carries. He was also ranked 47th, among others, with just eight rushing attempts of 10+ yards, and posted a career-low PFF rushing grade.
As the Packer’s approach 2024’s training camp, the usage rates of both Jacobs and Dillon will be something to monitor, but we can expect Matt LaFleur and offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich to pass the RB1 reigns onto the former All-Pro.
This transition proves the Packers want a true franchise running back, and it seems they finally have just that. The young Jacobs, 26, should be poised for a full workload, in hopes to reach rushing leader status once again.
