The Green Bay Packers originally didn’t intend to secure a high-profile running back. However, when negotiations with Aaron Jones soured over a pay reduction late last week, the team swiftly changed course over the weekend, opting to pursue free agent Josh Jacobs instead.
By early Monday afternoon, the Green Bay Packers executed one of its most seismic shifts at a position in recent times. This shift, matching last year’s transition from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love, saw the Packers parting ways with Aaron Jones and quickly finalizing a four-year, $48 million deal with Jacobs. He played the first five seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders and his expertise will definitely add value to the Packers.
Jones was set to earn $12 million in pay and bonuses in 2024, with a salary cap exceeding $17 million. The Packers wanted Jones to slash those figures by a lot. This request came after Jones reduced his pay by $5 million, from $16 million to $11 million, last year. Early last week, the Packers believed Jones might consider negotiating.
But on Friday, Jones and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told Gutekunst and Russ Ball, the team’s contract person, they wouldn’t accept as big a pay cut as the Packers suggested. The Packers didn’t want to keep Jones waiting over the weekend, so they basically said they’d have to find other options and move on.
They could’ve kept Jones until Wednesday, when the new league year starts and contracts can be signed. But they didn’t want to risk it. They didn’t want Jones to change his mind about the pay cut and then have to tell him the offer wasn’t valid anymore.
Because of his loyalty to the team and the admiration he has from both the organization and the fans, Jones was let go on Monday to start chatting with other teams right away. By Tuesday morning, he had agreed to join the Minnesota Vikings on a one-year contract worth $7 million, which is about $1 million more than what the Packers offered him.
In addition to the acquisition of Josh Jacobs, the decision to part ways with Aaron Jones follows the breakdown of contract negotiations between Jones and the Green Bay Packers. Jones, who was poised to enter the final year of his contract in 2024, was slated to receive $12 million for the upcoming season before the talks failed.
“We want to thank Aaron for his unwavering commitment to the Packers and the community over the past seven seasons,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said Monday in a statement on the team’s website. “It is certainly one of the hardest decisions we’ve had to make in my time with the Packers and not one taken lightly. He has not only had a significant impact on the field and in the locker room, but he is one of the most beloved players in the community. We wish nothing but the best for Aaron and his entire family moving forward.”
Having devoted his entire professional career to the Packers, the 29-year-old running back was a homegrown talent. He was drafted by the team in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft from UTEP. Over the years, he grew into one of the NFL’s most adaptable backs, earning recognition with a Pro Bowl selection in 2020. He even shared the league’s rushing touchdowns lead with 16 in the 2019 season.
“Today is a tough day for the Packers and our community. As good of a player as Aaron is on the field, he is an even better person,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said Monday in a statement on the team’s website. “When I arrived in Green Bay as a first-time head coach, he was instrumental in establishing our winning culture and always served as the greatest example of what it meant to be a Packer. Aaron will always be one of the best players I had the opportunity to coach. He, his son, Junior, his mom, Vurgess, and his family will be missed.”
During the 2023 season, Jones faced setbacks due to injuries, restricting his participation to only 11 games. Nonetheless, his on-field performance remained remarkably productive. He showcased his prowess by rushing for over 100 yards in the last five games of the Green Bay season, including both playoff matchups. Over his seven-year tenure with the franchise, he surpassed 1,000 scrimmage yards on four occasions and achieved three seasons with double-digit touchdowns.
As Jones concludes his tenure with the Packers, he leaves an indelible mark on the team’s history books. With 5,940 rushing yards to his name, he secures the third-highest spot in the franchise’s annals. His 45 rushing touchdowns place him fourth among Packers’ greats, while his 272 receptions earn him the 19th position in the team’s receiving records.