With free agency looming around the corner the Packers have a lot of decisions to make this offseason. Sunday afternoon Green Bay was able to cross off Aaron Jones on that list of decisions. Their star running back is staying home.
It was announced that the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Jones agreed to a 4yr/$48M contract extension according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. $13M of that $48M is guaranteed as a signing bonus. That puts him tied with Joe Mixon as the 6th highest paid running back in the NFL.
Aaron Jones’ agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN that they were anticipating bigger offers in free agency, but Jones wanted to remain in Green Bay. The Packers opted against using the franchise tag on Jones and continued to work out the long-term deal.
Many expected Aaron Jones to leave the Packers this offseason (me included). I thought teams like the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, or even the New England Patriots might be able to steal him away. The drafting of A.J. Dillon in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft was also concerning for Jones’ future. Evidently that was the Packers more not knowing how to draft rather than a foreshadow into their future plans.
Since 2019 Jones has rushed for 2,188 yards, 27 touchdowns and caught 96 passes for 829 yards and five touchdowns. That is without a doubt one of the best two year runs that anyone put out from 2019-20. It will be exciting to see how the Packers plan on using Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon in the future.
