Green Bay Packers: Backfield Shaping Up to Look Much Different in 2021

This past season, the Green Bay Packers had one of, if not the best backfield in the NFL. Of course, this group was led by Aaron Jones, along with Jamaal Williams, and over the final weeks of the season, we were finally able to see AJ Dillon. A successful running game is a key element of the Matt LaFleur offense–not only for success on the ground, but it also opens things up in the passing game as well.

However, given the replaceability of the position along with what is going to be an unprecedented offseason with the salary cap plummeting around $20 million, as good as this backfield was in 2020, it could look quite different in 2021.

Jones and the Packers have been engaged in contract negotiations since last April — or at least that was the first time we heard about it — and according to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, Green Bay offered Jones top-5 running back money in terms of average annual value, but the deal was lacking the guaranteed dollars.

During the last two years under Coach LaFleur, Jones has flourished, totaling 2,158 rushing yards with an average of five yards per carry and 25 touchdowns. In the passing game, Jones has tallied 829 yards and five more touchdowns.

To put it simply, this offense really does look different when he is on the field. But given the cap crunch, a new contract with the Green Bay Packers doesn’t appear to be in the cards.

Williams doesn’t garner the same attention as Jones, but he too, is an important player in this offense and is one of the more steady all-around running backs. During his four NFL seasons, Williams has at least 460 rushing yards, at least 210 receiving yards, and has found the end zone 18 times. Not to mention that he’s very good in pass protection as well.

Unfortunately, Williams is also a free agent and his future at this time is uncertain. Recently, Demovsky reported that while talks between Jones and Green Bay were ongoing, the Packers never made an offer to Williams.

This is pure speculation on my part, but my guess is that Green Bay wants to see how Williams fares in free agency and may still be open to bringing him back if the price is right. But the obvious risk involved with that is that Williams could end up signing with a different team.

Ultimately we still have to see how things play out in free agency, but with the path that they are on, it’s looking like the Green Bay Packers are going to have a much different backfield this upcoming season.

As of now, we know that Dillon will be RB1 for the Green Bay Packers, but LaFleur loves utilizing multiple backs, so who else is going to be apart of this backfield in 2021?

One name already on the roster to keep your eyes on is 2020 undrafted rookie Patrick Taylor out of Memphis. In a recent article by Mark Eckle of Packer Report, he asked an NFL scout about Taylor, and the scout believes that Green Bay thinks highly of him:

"“I think they like him. Again, he’s what they look for, a back who can catch and block, not just run.’’"

Other than Taylor, there is Dexter Williams; however, at this point, I think the Packers already know what they have in him. But otherwise, Green Bay is going to have to address this need in free agency, which may be unlikely given that they are still $30 million over the salary cap or in the draft, where they do have 10 selections after receiving three compensatory picks.

Either way, running back is a position that must be addressed this offseason by GM Brian Gutekunst. Around the league, paying running backs isn’t necessary for success, but having at least two, and preferably three running backs in the LaFleur offense who can block and catch passes is necessary for success.