Packers should franchise tag free agent Aaron Jones
The Green Bay Packers have a number of difficult decisions to make this offseason. Not only is the salary cap dropping, causing them to cut at least $28 million off their salary cap before next season, but they also have a number of their own free agents they need to make decisions on. And, perhaps, none bigger than running back Aaron Jones.
Jones has beasted the last two seasons and has firmly arrived on the scene as one of the best running backs in the NFL. In 2019, he racked up over 1500 total yards and 19 touchdowns. He had a stellar encore performance in 2020 by running for 1104 yards with a 5.5 yards per carry average and adding another 11 total touchdowns.
ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reports the Packers tried hard to keep Jones, even making him multiple offers that would’ve ranked him “among the top backs in the NFL.” The issue, according to Demovsky’s sources, was that the guaranteed money was low. This caused him to fire his agent in the regular season and hire Drew Rosenhaus.
The Green Bay Packers should use the franchise tag to keep free-agent-to-be Aaron Jones and create a one-two punch in the backfield.
Demovsky continues to say that Jones hasn’t come close to a deal with the Packers and it’s unlikely he returns next season.
However, one outside the box idea, presented by Demovsky’s ESPN colleague Jeremy Fowler, is for Green Bay to franchise tag Jones. The franchise tag would run the Packers between $8-11 million, not exactly ideal given the current salary-cap landscape, however, it would give Green Bay one more year of team control over Jones during the middle of his prime running back years. It would also eliminate any risk of signing Jones long-term considering the short shelf life of running backs and Jones’ injury history in the NFL.
Bringing Jones back would give the Packers a dynamic one-two punch in the backfield along with 2020 second-round pick A.J. Dillon. Dillon flashed last season and appears ready to handle a larger workload. If Green Bay can pair the two together, it should make for one of the most dangerous backfields in the game and show Aaron Rodgers they are going all-in on winning a Super Bowl in 2021.
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The most difficult aspect of this whole equation may be finding that extra $8-11 million. However, the Packers could save $21.1 million alone by cutting these four players. They can then save a bunch more money by restructuring any of these six contracts. It’s certainly doable, the question is would the Packers want to risk bringing a disgruntled Jones into the locker room?