The four-year, $48MM contract Aaron Jones agreed to in 2021 pointed to a 2023 restructure, and the Packers indeed showed interest in keeping their veteran running back in the fold. They completed that restructure Friday morning to avoid a separation.
Jones took a $5MM cut in salary in exchange for an $8.52MM signing bonus, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The talented back’s $20MM cap number will be reduced — as GM Brian Gutekunst hinted it would be last month — and the sides will stay together for a seventh season.
In addition to ensuring Jones stays in Green Bay for his age-29 season, this agreement will end with the UTEP product earning $11MM in salary in 2023. Jones’ previous cap hit was set to lead all running backs in 2023 by nearly $4MM, making it a seemingly untenable number for the Packers, who will keep their Jones-AJ Dillon tandem intact for a fourth season. Jones confirmed the news (via Twitter). Dillon’s rookie contract expires after the 2023 season.
This marks the second straight offseason the Packers have restructured Jones’ deal. The team tacked on two void years to the starter’s deal to create 2022 cap space. The contract still runs through 2024.
Due to this bonus conversion, Jones’ 2021-23 earnings ($31MM) as of now trail only Christian McCaffrey among running backs, Schefter adds (on Twitter). This comes despite Jones receiving only $13MM guaranteed at signing — 11th at the position. The $8.52MM signing bonus will replace the $7MM roster bonus that was due next month, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com adds. In doing so, the Packers reduced Jones’ cap hit.
The Packers let Jamaal Williams walk in 2021, leading to a Lions accord, and prioritized Jones. This has continued a fruitful partnership between the NFC North franchise and a former fifth-round pick. Jones led the NFL in touchdowns in 2019, with 19, and made the Pro Bowl in 2020. Despite the Packers’ offensive regression this past season, Jones totaled 1,516 yards from scrimmage — the second-most of his career.
A Packers team that had not enjoyed too much continuity at running back over the past decade and change has seen Jones provide it. Jones’ seventh Packers season will match Ahman Green‘s tenure (2000-06). If Jones can match his 17 starts from 2022, he would tie Green for 91 during his career. Green is the only modern-era Packers back to outflank Jones for starts presently. The latter could pass Paul Hornung in franchise history this season as well; Jim Taylor‘s 104 lead all Packers ball-carriers.
People will look into this too much as it pertains to Rodgers. The team needs to get under the cap and this is one of the easiest moves to get close to that.
I’d also expect similar moves with Bakhtiari, Clark, Smith, or Alexander to have restructures soon as well to get under the cap soon.
I’m not connecting this with whether Rodgers stays or goes. I’m just thinking of all the people who insisted Jones would be gone because of how the previous contract was set up.
And as far as those who think he or any RB is so easily replaceable..not even going to debate that. But it makes more sense to me that they keep him at the new price (for this year anyway) than eat the dead cap hit and try to find another guy.
I still believe the best course of action is to roll with AR this year and exercise Love’s option.
Restructure and cut what you can to be able to trade for a guy like Hopkins and just go for it 1 more year.
Then if it fails, cut bait with AR and let love play his 5th year option you exercised and if he shows something you can tag and extend. If not you can look elsewhere.
Unless they can find a wild deal for AR. They should have traded him last year the absolute second they decided to trade Adams.
If they traded Adams and Rodgers last year they’d have the Broncos first, the raiders first, and their own which would be considerably higher than where they are now. Plus the broncos pick next year as well and 2nd rounders. Missed opportunity.
Pretty much agree with everything there, though I’ll admit a bit is hindsight on my part. The end result (8-9, missing playoffs, Detroit celebrating at Lambeau like they just won the SB..) was basically the worst possible outcome teamwise.
If 12 wants to play elsewhere, make a deal and see what Love has now. And it’s not like they wouldn’t use a 1st rounder on his potential replacement if Gute likes some 3rd round graded prospect from Northwest Middle Alcorn State-Eastern Campus…
Dat signing bonus though
I would have been fine with moving on from Aaron Jones, ball security issues are becoming more of a concern and going into his age 29 season I believe his best years are behind him. Hopefully this doesn’t preclude the Packers from drafting a running back in the middle rounds… somewhere between rounds 3 and 5… somebody who can hit the ground running as Jones replacement to combine with AJ Dillon in 2024. Zach Charbonnet from UCLA would look great in green and gold
Do you think, with the dead cap hit, and potential of Jordan Love being QB1 next year, that moving on from Jones/Dillon to Dillon/inexperienced rookie is sensible though? Plus 3 young WR, zero depth behind them, and 1 TE, as of now, on the roster.
I think there has to be some continuity somewhere, and they probably need to rely on the run game more anyway. Are the fumbles a concern? Sure, but let’s not pretend we can guarantee the next guy won’t put it on the ground just as often.