The Green Bay Packers have been hit with troubling news recently when it was revealed that the team has parted ways with Aaron Jones. Ignoring the emotional impact of the fact that he signed with the Vikings (it still hurts), the team did sign Josh Jacobs yesterday, but they could and should look to improve the running back room by any means necessary.
AJ Dillon having a statistically awful 2023 season confirms that the Packers will be on the hunt for yet another running back. The team could try to roll with Dillon, but why not completely begin anew with the run game?
Coach LaFleur loves to play in a run-based West Coast offense, and his master plan in building around Jordan Love is predicated on that. Considering the team struggled running last year, he was bound to be on the hunt for multiple bodies to help the squad in the future.
Here’s who Green Bay could and should sign out of the available market.
JK Dobbins
Much has been written about the Packers signing Dobbins. There’s room for concern, as JK might just be fool’s gold.
The running back who was just considered young is already at or past his peak. It feels like yesterday he was drafted by the Ravens, but 2020 was 4 years ago. He had mileage at Ohio State and has sustained two season-ending injuries during his time with Baltimore.
There’s no doubt he’s a baller, but can he stay healthy? Considering Green Bay’s injury luck over the past few years, probably not.
Why The Green Bay Packers Should Sign Kareem Hunt
Hunt’s name has floated as a potential option after the Aaron Jones release. Hunt’s dual-threat ability as a runner and receiver would complement Josh Jacob’s power running style nicely. He’s more than a proven talent with over 6,300 scrimmage yards and 57 touchdowns throughout his entire career.
However, there are some factors the Packers might consider. Hunt’s past off-field incidents raise character concerns. Additionally, at 28 years old, he might not be a long-term solution. A lot of people think Hunt is past his prime, and with Jerome Ford getting a bigger role than Hunt last year, Kareem might just be too old. He did have a TD in 4 straight games last year, however.
Browns 29
Signing Hunt offers both potential and risk. He could be a valuable weapon for Aaron Rodgers, but the Packers will weigh the talent he brings against potential drawbacks before making a decision.
Why The Green Bay Packers Should Sign Dalvin Cook
This would be the PERFECT response to the Vikings signing Aaron Jones. Does he still have the same on-field impact he had in his prime? No, but he can’t be much worse than Aaron who’s also past his career peak and would play behind a much better offensive line than he had in Minnesota or New York.
There was speculation after the Minnesota Vikings released Cook in 2023 that the Packers might be interested, especially considering their need for running back depth. However, Cook ended up signing with the Jets. He found himself with the Ravens in the postseason and looked solid in a very limited role.
