Needing help at a few skill-position spots, the Dolphins have identified a high-end target. They are interested in Aaron Jones, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, who notes the interest in a potential agreement is mutual.
Jones could certainly help in multiple areas, having excelled in four seasons with the Packers. The Dolphins are on Jones’ list, Jackson notes. As an up-and-coming team in a market that regularly attracts free agents, this should not be especially surprising.
Green Bay has until March 15 to negotiate exclusively with Jones. Given his pedigree as likely the top back available, the standout runner may well have a deal in place before the legal tampering period concludes. The new league year begins March 17.
The Packers and Jones went through extensive negotiations last year but could not hammer out a deal. Jones changed agents during this process. While the Packers are believed to have offered their starting back a deal that paid him north of $12MM annually, that offer was low on fully guaranteed money.
The Dolphins are also interested in bolstering their receiving corps. They are believed to be targeting both slot and boundary wide receivers, with names like Marvin Jones and T.Y. Hilton on their radar. It would be interesting to see Miami devote considerable funding to its running back spot, given the team’s needs at wide receiver. The Dolphins also return Myles Gaskin, who showed promise last season. Matt Breida is on track for free agency. While Miami has avenues to increasing its cap-space figure, the team has just more than $20MM as of Tuesday. That figure sits 10th in the league, per OverTheCap.
Although the Dolphins have been connected to a Deshaun Watson trade — which would cost tremendous draft capital — they could easily acquire a top running back prospect in the draft. The Dolphins hold four picks in the draft’s first two rounds.
In three of his four seasons, Jones has averaged 5.5 yards per carry. While he did not make the Pro Bowl in 2019, when he led the NFL with 19 touchdowns, Jones’ second straight 1,000-yard season did garner him such acclaim last season. Jones (1,104 rushing yards) averaged a career-high 78.4 yards per game in 2020. The Packers have both he and Jamaal Williams on track for free agency, with Williams likely to hit the market. The team also has All-Pro center Corey Linsley weeks away from the open market, making for a pivotal negotiating stretch for the NFC North champions.
I still say the Packers should tag Jones and anyone that wants to give us a draft pick to sign him we should whether it’s the franchise tag or transition tag
If he’s franchise tagged there will be a grand total of zero trade offers to consider. They should resign Jones or tag him and keep him one more season. I know some want to hang him for the costly fumble against the Bucs but he’s a very good running back. The franchise tag for running backs isn’t high particularly for a player of his caliber. Give it one more year and then let him walk.
Franchise tag doesn’t necessarily guarantee 2 first round picks returned in trade, only as compensation to losing someone outright in free afency.. packers franchised Corey Williams (DT) a number of years back and accepted a trade of a 2nd round pick from the browns in exchange.
Aaron Jones and Deshaun Watson plus some improvement at WR. Can’t go wrong with that defence
What is a defence?
“Defence” is a correctly used word in the context. It’s out the British dictionary. Look it up before calling it out.
Sign Jones, take a WR at 3.
8 mill tag for jones is a steal…3000 yards and 37 tds past two years packers would be crazy not to at least tag him
Honestly The smart move here for salary cap is tagging him bc the 8mil is cheaper than the 12mil.. I say offer him 4 yrs 12mil/yr with 18mil guarenteed.. Orr offer him a 5th yr too.. Aaron Jones reminds me of Bell.. He can see the holes fast while running he very diversified catch and run.. They could just extend Jamal then tag Jones flip him to Miami for their #18th pick and a 3rd rounder orrr 18th pick this yr and a 2022 2nd rounder… Thats what id doo.. But, Miami would lose out to Watson iff they make any such trades like that…