Cory's Corner: The Packers Got Better
The Packers lost two cornerstones, but a belief from Brian Gutekunst just made this team better.
Monday was a tough day for a lot of people including myself.
Aaron Jones has been the engine for the Packers offense for a few years now. His versatility is nearly unmatched by being able to run it between the tackles and outside, catch passes and even pass protect. He is an ideal back in today’s NFL because he never has to come off the field.
But what set Jones apart was how endearing he was away from the field. His sombrero was iconic as was his oversized sunglasses. The fifth round pick from Texas-El Paso was a perfect fit for blue collar Green Bay and the city and state of Wisconsin loved him right back. He’s 29 and the Packers expected him to take a 50 percent pay cut, which isn’t going to happen for a guy that is looking for a decent payday for his last or second-to-last NFL contract. He played seven seasons in Green Bay and finished as the No. 3 rusher in franchise history.
Losing David Bakhtiari is a tough pill to swallow but we all knew it was over. His body just never seemed to be right after tearing his right ACL in practice on Dec. 31, 2020. Bakhtiari was so good that he was on a Hall of Fame track in 2020 after earning his second All-Pro bid in three seasons. But then he got injured and now as a 32-year-old, he’s trying to get back to the dominant left tackle that he once was.
But at the end of the day, the Packers got better. Xavier McKinney is a top five safety. He’s that good. He had 94 tackles last season and only missed seven. He’s versatile by lining up deep, in the slot or in the box and most importantly, he has been named a team captain twice.
Then there’s Josh Jacobs. He was arguably the best running back in 2022 with 1,653 rushing yards — 1,156 of those yards came after contact. He had 41 yards of 10 yards or more and he also forced 90 missed tackles. He only played in 13 games in 2023 thanks to a nagging quad bruise. The best part is that Jacobs is only 26. He still has a lot of mileage on his legs and his hard-running style is perfect for Green Bay winters. He’s also versatile. He has averaged 39 receptions a season and has gotten over 300 receiving yards twice.
You can be upset about what happened on Monday, but know that Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst made the Packers better. Think about that for a second. He made the Packers, a team that was razor close to beating the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, even better.
And he did it by not settling. That’s why I loved it so much. The Packers know and understand that they are close. Being silent in free agency and only adding rookies through the draft would not have given this team a significant upgrade.
The Packers raised a lot of people’s eyebrows this past season. Adding key pieces in free agency just means that they believe in the guys that they currently have. Even though it was Jordan Love’s first year as a starting quarterback, they believe that this team is close. If the rest of the NFC wasn't put on notice last year, they certainly are now.
And after hitting two home runs in free agency, the rest of the locker room is now believers as well.
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (205)
HawkPacker
March 12, 2024 at 06:15 am
Overall, regarding yesterday's transactions I would describe it as bittersweet. So happy with the signings but losing Jones is tough. He has meant so much to our team-both on the field and off.
I will miss his sunglasses, his sombrero and the way he played for us. I don't blame him for not signing with us. He took a sizeable cut in salary last year and was asked to take an even more cut this year. Plus the fact that he has I new agent, I kind of figured he would not sign with us.
Farewell Mr Jones! And hello to McKinney and Jacobs!
dblbogey
March 12, 2024 at 09:47 am
Love Jones. Hate that he's gone. I don't blame him for not taking another pay cut, but he ended up taking a pay cut with the Vikings - $7 million 1 year salary. Jones still has some juice, but will be 30 and injuries seem to come more frequently. Our new back is just 26. It's good for the team in the long run.
jvole
March 12, 2024 at 06:30 am
Great additions! The contracts Gute has reportedly put forward seem really smart. Younger guys are almost always an upgrade in the NFL.
But other than Favre, I cannot think of another player who I am going to miss watching more than Aaron Jones. Just an amazing love of the game and great person. Looking forward to his Packers Hall of Fame induction.
SicSemperTyrannis
March 12, 2024 at 07:17 am
We'll see if these contracts are smart. That's a lot of money for a S, but if he proves to be Superman and makes our new DC go? Hell yes it's worth it.
Can MLF adjust his playcalling to make the most out of Jacobs? He could have a really big year.
Is there anything left for anyone else? There are still ILBs and S left in FA who might go cheap. Even a hybrid.
murf7777
March 12, 2024 at 07:48 am
It would be great to get a Salary Cap update article.
WestCoastPackerBacker
March 12, 2024 at 09:12 am
I think they gained quite a bit of room with the release of number 69 and Campbell and Jones.
Coldworld
March 12, 2024 at 11:04 am
As far as I know, the details on McKinney have yet to come out.
jvole
March 12, 2024 at 08:23 am
True! "We'll see...." should be the official motto of all NFL transactions!
PeteK
March 12, 2024 at 10:09 am
I believe, Jacobs--12.5 and Mckinney 25 guaranteed. Very fair contracts.
WD
March 12, 2024 at 06:33 am
Just heard the news this morning. Holy Sh*t! Was not expecting this. The question is would we trade Bakhtiare and Jones for McKinney and Jacobs? Granted it was not fair to Aaron Jones. He deserved better and I wish we could have had both RB's . Yet Gute is guided my the mantra of putting the Packers first. In terms of that the deal looks good. Very good. Congratulations to Gute for making the tough choices. Tis best to always look at the bright side of things. Time will tell but I give Gute an A+ for the first phase of the season namely free agency. Can hardly wait until the draft. In Gute we trust!
Cheezehead72
March 12, 2024 at 06:39 am
I do not want a GM or coaches or any employees including the players that do not put the team first.
WestCoastPackerBacker
March 12, 2024 at 12:44 pm
Is it unfair? Since no one else paid him what GB owed him, then his market value was close to what GB was asking him to take. I mean, he didn't get huge money as a FA, so I think it is fair. They set a price at which they were willing to take the risk on a 29 year old player who missed 6 games last year. He went from 1121 yards in '22 to '656 yards n 2023. That's just realistic market price. Maybe he didn't like it and signed with the Vikings for close to what GB offered. Sad, because I would cheer for him. But I can't, now that he'll be in purple.
NickPerry
March 12, 2024 at 06:35 am
Once again yesterday we saw the NFL is a cold hearted business. I knew the moment they signed Jacobs the heart and soul of this Packers team was gone. THIS is the part of the NFL I despise. Releasing Aaron Jones feels much like it did did when Jordy Nelson left GB. I totally understand why Gute did what he did...I just don't like it.
IMO the Packers DID get better yesterday. Gute went out and signed who many thought was the best Safety available in FA for the BIGGEST weakness on the Packers roster and he made the HARD decisions to get it done.
I'll miss Bakhtiari but it's felt for quite some time that he's been gone for a long time. Jones however is a different story. Just PLEASE don't sign with those Purple guys Mr. Jones.
MainePackFan
March 12, 2024 at 08:19 am
" Just PLEASE don't sign with those Purple guys Mr. Jones."
Too late my friend:
Former Packers RB Aaron Jones intends to sign with the Vikings, as
@DMRussini
reported.
It is a one-year, $7 million deal that his agents Drew Rosenhaus and Ryan Matha now have confirmed.
SicSemperTyrannis
March 12, 2024 at 08:24 am
Wish #33 would have stayed in GB for $8MM.
Hopefully Jacobs makes us forget all about that, but right now this still hurts.
I don't think #33 could ever be forgotten in GB ...
MainePackFan
March 12, 2024 at 08:33 am
It is what it is. The last of the "Last Dance" crowd are gone. It truly is a new era in Green Bay. I pray Gutekunst got it right.
mattgsx
March 12, 2024 at 09:34 am
And the Packers were not going to give Jones $8 million. He would have had to agree to a much more significant pay cut to get his cap hit this year anywhere close to that absent a multi-year extension, which GB would have had to backload again to get the cap savings they wanted.
Racingdad
March 12, 2024 at 09:44 am
Heard they asked him to take six million , but his agent said he can do better they stopped talking over the weekend and gute pivoted to Jacob’s interesting ? Bet they could have gotten to 6.5 or even 7 but that new agent knew better oh well maybe it’s for the better? Time will tell. Hope jones has fun in minny fighting for a bottom spot instead of a Super Bowl
CheesedDeadHead
March 12, 2024 at 10:05 am
But his agent wasn't "negotiating" with the Packers. He drew a line in the sand and that was it. I am 99.9% sure they went to the Vikings and said you have to beat $6M and the Vikings said, no problem $7M. If Rosenhaus told the Packers he wouldn't take $6M, but he would take $7M the ink would have still been wet on the reworked contract for AJ to sign. Just an Alpha agent doing whatever to "win" against a GM.
Irish_Cheesehead
March 12, 2024 at 10:12 am
He certainly didn't shop around more for much better. He signed almost immediately with the Vikings for one-year $7 mil. Vikings are one of the few teams that will swoop in to pick up the Packers aging vets. I wish Jones well, but with his age and injury history he wasn't getting more anywhere else but purpleland.
Coldworld
March 12, 2024 at 11:16 am
Had there been real interest at that price, he wouldn’t have signed yet. It looks like the only interested party was the Vikings and they gave barely more than he could have got here. It looks like the Packers were broadly right as to value.
My big concerns about this are a) that the eventual deal tells me it should have been doable here and Rosenhaus screwed the pooch and possibly his client in the longer term. B) is which Jacobs are we getting, the 2019 and 2022 version or the 2020, 2021 and particularly 2023 version?
I suppose time will tell. Herman was very confident from film that Jacobs’ physical skills weren’t diminished last year and it is fair to say that their interior OL was even worse at run blocking than ours. Both have been rated very poorly in league terms, but theirs was worse. That’s encouraging, but only if we make sure that C and RG in particular are a lot better and focus hard on improving that aspect this year.
SicSemperTyrannis
March 12, 2024 at 08:22 am
#33 to the Viqueens, along with Sam Darnold. Both on 1 year deals.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 12, 2024 at 10:30 am
Nick,
The NFL isn't a whole lot different than the business most of us know. The real problem is the overvaluing of players. I no doubt believe both Jones and Bachtiari would still be with the Packers but either knew or believed they would profit more by going elsewhere. If true, they had a choice and consciously chose to leave. It is on them! The team needs to go young as the rest of the team is young. Build a dynasty! I am fine as the team will be better off because of it as their salaries no longer matched the talent (and availability throughout the season).
Turophile
March 12, 2024 at 11:59 am
It's a complicated business.
The Packers could probably have kept Jones if they hadn't pushed all the money into the future. The last Bakhtiari deal turned out a bad one, but you can never predict injuries.
Another side of this is that aging players look to their peak salary and expect something similar and most GMs just don't see it that way.
I don't blame Jones and the only blame on Gute was pushing so much money into the future for one more year of Rodgers. Everything that happened today, both good and bad, is just NFL business.
Will Green Bay be a better team in 2024, on paper I'd say yes, but team chemistry is a new variable each season and counts for plenty.
I wish Campbell, Savage, Bakhtiari and Jones all the best in the future. I am hoping there are no hard feelings from any of them.............and if there are, I hope they diminish with time.
Cheezehead72
March 12, 2024 at 06:37 am
So this is one of the reasons I do not own and will never own a jersey. Jones' jersey is one I would have owned but now he is gone. I like Jones and wish him the best. Gute did the right thing by getting Jacobs. Many people were saying we should sign Barkley. I said no and now I am happy that the Packers did not after all the money the Eagles are paying him. We got the better back all around.
I am not happy with all the dead money we are carrying but to cut that require Jones to take a pay cut. I figured that was not going to happen.
I am happy that the Packers got McKinney. He is a good pick up on a position of need. Now we need to look at LB. I still think if we can get Wagner fairly reasonable we should take him for a 1 to 2 year bridge. He can still play and he tackles very good.
One of the other reasons Ido not own a jersey is I am a Green Bay Packer fan not a fan of a certain player. Plus players can disappoint where no matter what the Packers might play bad but they never disappoint to the point I dislike them.
Untylu1968
March 12, 2024 at 07:08 am
You can always have a custom jersey made, with your name and favorite number. It'll never go out of style..
Cheezehead72
March 12, 2024 at 07:39 am
Yes I can but I did not mention I am frugal and some would say cheap. Plus I am out of style so does that mean it will be out of style.
SicSemperTyrannis
March 12, 2024 at 08:25 am
NFL jerseys are not ... "frugal."
T7Steve
March 12, 2024 at 07:39 am
My father always gave me a Packer Super Bowl shirt after they win that I wear on game days. I ripped a hole in the Favre one and was worried it would wear out but then Rodgers won one. Now that one is getting old, and my father passed away, so I'll have to figure out what to do WHEN (not if) we win the next one.
Cheezehead72
March 12, 2024 at 07:41 am
Start a new tradition. If you have kids get them to buy you a shirt.
SicSemperTyrannis
March 12, 2024 at 08:26 am
Lol I didn't see that one coming
T7Steve
March 12, 2024 at 08:29 am
I've been hinting. We'll see.
SicSemperTyrannis
March 12, 2024 at 08:27 am
One?!? TEN! GB wins the next 10. Just to avenge the past 30 years 😎
GPG!!
LambeauPlain
March 12, 2024 at 08:34 am
My wonderful wife got me an official NFL Favre Jersey one Christmas. The next Spring the "retirement drama" began.
Then my wife got me a Jennings jersey for a subsequent Christmas. You guessed it...he was wearing Ugly Purple the next season.
Then she she gave me a CMIII jersey....you guessed it:-((
Coldworld
March 12, 2024 at 11:18 am
Buy several …
EnemyTerritory
March 12, 2024 at 07:42 am
Funny but true. My signed jersey plays in Vegas and my signed football got cut yesterday. Football is a brutal business and it can be heartbreaking for fans. However, the game itself is also physically brutal and it is the salary cap that makes the game competitively interesting. Especially for a small media market like Green Bay. Thanks for the memories Aaron and David. Looking forward to the new memories to come from Xavier and Josh…
Packerpasty
March 12, 2024 at 09:25 am
I'm the same way...a few years ago I actually won a jersey from a contest that the Packer Pro Shop had going, I never win anything so I was surprised and I chose Jordy Nelson jersey, a year later he was gone so that was bad luck and a sign that I should never spend cash on a jersey and I dont...I still have the Nelson jersey and a Beebe jersey that I picked up at a yard sale for 5 bucks...
dblbogey
March 12, 2024 at 09:50 am
So should I burn my James Lofton jersey?
MooPack
March 12, 2024 at 10:25 am
Nooooooooo.
It's funny you mention him. Before you posted that I was thinking of the same player. I was thinking back to when I loved the players more than the team. I loved Lofton. But when he left, that was the turning point for me. Since then, I realized it's about the team and not the players. Players leave. I root for certain players, but team comes first. I buy team memorabilia now.
Tundraboy
March 12, 2024 at 10:51 am
Never!
Irish_Cheesehead
March 12, 2024 at 10:16 am
After purchasing a Favre and Jennings jersey, I learned my lesson and now only consider jerseys of retired players that I still respect. If I were to purchase a jersey today it would have to be Reggie White or Charles Woodson.
Coldworld
March 12, 2024 at 11:21 am
Either of those but but for me it’s Driver and Starr on the apex with them. Good players, true Packers, good men.
Those Sharper jerseys though ….
baldski
March 12, 2024 at 06:34 pm
How about a signed Ray Nitschke and Robert Mays?
bjkdad44
March 16, 2024 at 03:33 am
And… perhaps… jerseys are way overpriced!!!
CheesedDeadHead
March 12, 2024 at 06:45 am
I think a lot of Packer fans are living in the past. After last year I think the heart and soul of the Packers was transferred to Jordan Love. He organized the off-season WR workouts at his home. Jordan took time during the bye week to get the receivers and him in sync on what he was looking for. For better or worse the leadership of the Packer locker room is firmly in Jordan Love’s hands. The king is dead, long live the King.
GregC
March 12, 2024 at 07:13 am
I couldn't agree more, but at the same time, I have to say that Aaron Jones was the perfect wingman. He thrived in that role. He had his fame, but he never seemed to want to upstage the QB or anyone else, and he was one of the most vocal supporters of Jordan Love when he took over. I hope Josh Jacobs is a good locker room fit. I don't know anything about his personality.
Racingdad
March 12, 2024 at 09:39 am
He was a caption on raiders also McKinney was a caption
dblbogey
March 12, 2024 at 09:52 am
What does a caption do? And what is a caption?
CheesedDeadHead
March 12, 2024 at 10:19 am
A caption translates audio into words on the screen so his deaf teammates can understand what the coach is saying.
10ve 💚
March 12, 2024 at 11:51 am
😜😂😁
jannesbjornson
March 12, 2024 at 11:57 am
We had discussed the Jones Refi since late December. When Rosenhaus came onboard, the liklihood of A.Jones taking a Discount was at the zero point. Will he remain a dynamic threat for the queens , or miss significant time from the Field?? We have no idea. The same concerns apply for Jacobs.
SicSemperTyrannis
March 12, 2024 at 07:23 am
I hope JL10 practices with our 3 fastest players all season long. There are other personnel groupings he could do too, but that's priority #1 IMHO.
I also hope our linemen buddy up to work out together and push each other harder than they ever have before, as long as they can stay smart and avoid injury. This is the kind of thing that will make next season better, every bit as much as new signings.
GPG!
baldski
March 12, 2024 at 06:36 pm
And the video in the locker room after the Dallas playoff showed the love this team has for Love.
TKWorldWide
March 12, 2024 at 06:56 am
NFL GM: not for the faint of heart.
T7Steve
March 12, 2024 at 07:44 am
I guess that was a horrible thing to say, otherwise I can't figure the thumb someone started using.
RCPackerFan
March 12, 2024 at 07:06 am
What a roller coaster of emotions yesterday.
We expected Savage and Runyan to leave. We had a feeling that Campbell would be out. We thought there was a better then not chance that they would be releasing Bakhtiari. But to see Jones getting released was a gut punch. He is not just a great player. He is a great leader, locker room guy, and a great representative of Green Bay Football!
The crazy part was for about an hour yesterday after they signed Jacobs we were blowing up twitter about how this instantly gave us the best backfield in the league. How this tandem was going to be dynamic. And an hour later the rug got pulled away from us.
I really do like the signing of Jacobs. He had a down year last year, but part of that was from injury, but look at the team he was surrounded with. He had no QB. Now he is coming to an offense that is absolutely loaded with talent. I think he is a very good fit. Now they have their hammer they need to find their juice. They need to go into the draft and draft a guy that has speed and the ability to be a weapon out of the backfield in the passing game.
McKinney was a fantastic signing. They had a huge need at S. They got the top S available. There are still some good ones available, I wouldn't be surprised if they double dipped and got another veteran safety. But even if they don't, getting McKinney was a huge move.
While it was a sad day, I think they made the correct moves. Getting the top safety, and adding one of the top RB's in the league.
SicSemperTyrannis
March 12, 2024 at 07:26 am
#31 might be the lightning to Jacob's thunder? They might draft somebody like that. Jacobs is a guy that can be a bell cow, perhaps all season long. If he's used like that, he could have a HUGE year. It would require MLF to adjust, a LOT.
T7Steve
March 12, 2024 at 07:55 am
"It would require MLF to adjust, a LOT." Why?
It seems Jacobs can run, block and catch passes so I don't understand. What is he changing except that he's younger and hopefully we can get more games out of him than we got from Jones last season.
This Packer fan wants to know.
murf7777
March 12, 2024 at 08:01 am
He is also more powerful than Jones. Just heard that in 2022 he ran for around 1000 yards on first downs alone. That’s an incredible stat that I’d guess only happened 20+ years ago.
LambeauPlain
March 12, 2024 at 10:34 am
He gets tuckloads of Yards After Contact. Great balance to accompany his tremendous power.
LLCHESTY
March 12, 2024 at 01:13 pm
He was 43rd among 49 RBs in yards after contact last year.
mattgsx
March 12, 2024 at 08:32 am
I don't think it's going to be anything earth-shattering, but I do expect some adjustments. Even when healthy, it was clear Jones has always been on a pitch count which makes sense with his smaller size and the fact that he came in the NFL from UTEP where he had a ton of carries and there were concerns about his knees and overall durability.
With Jacobs being a bigger back and more of a power runner, I'm guessing we will see more called runs from under center or the pistol on 1st/2nd down and not just 3rd down short yardage situations. I see that as a huge positive as Love has been deadly on play action passes and this opens up more opportunity for them. Is this hopefully will also keep the run, or at least the threat of the run, on the table throughout the game. Both McCarthy and MLF had a frustrating habit of forgetting about their running backs for long stretches of the game and you could see it made it difficult for the offense to establish rhythm.
I think Wilson has shown enough to justify an increased workload (would likely be a lot less than what Dillon got behind a healthy Jones) but it also wouldn't surprise me if Green Bay gets a running back on day three and also brings in a UDFA or to to kick the tires at camp.
SicSemperTyrannis
March 12, 2024 at 08:42 am
Jacobs is a power back. #33 is not. MLF has never utilized a power back intelligently in GB consistently throughout a season. He has a history of forgetting #33 was even on the team, only to later say in a press conference that he has to get him more involved in the game. Week after week after week.
Can MLF adjust? Jacobs is the type of RB who can be the bell cow, perhaps all season long. That would make it easier on MLF to utilize him well. Trying to use a double headed monster in the backfield has not been MLF's strength, even though during his time in GB he has called some plays that mixed it up and it worked.
I'd like to see MLF succeed with Jacobs. Of course I'd like to see Gutey draft well at the position for depth, too. I still see #31 Wilson as an unknown, with no opportunity for anyone to really evaluate him last season. He might be better than any of us suspect.
I'll never get to see #28 33 85 88 and 9 at 100% take the field; when I first wrote I wanted to, I expected they wouldn't all be back. Last off-season I expected 28 and 33 would not both return this season, but I didn't expect to lose BOTH.
Jacobs could make that loss purely sentimental if he has a good year. He has the potential to come up HUGE. A dominant O line and an unstoppable run game sounds like just what the Dr ordered?
T7Steve
March 12, 2024 at 09:21 am
MLF couldn't get the power running game going because for at least 75% of the time he's been here he didn't have the O-line that run blocked well. I'm hoping that's fixed. I thought before last season the line would be a strength, but it didn't pan out (after D.B. got hurt in Chicago) till the second half of the season. We have to have improvement this year and start good out of the gate.
dobber
March 12, 2024 at 09:14 am
Maybe in the fundamental run sets--Jacobs isn't an outside zone guy. I'll be interested to see if this starts a shift to more power-gap running and maybe drafting a power G or C.
I think the draft priority at RB is a speedy, shifty guy who can get to the edge of the defense. Maybe Wilson can do that, but I see him and Jacobs as being more similar than Wilson was to Jones.
mattgsx
March 12, 2024 at 09:37 am
Myers was supposed to be that nasty mauling run blocker but unfortunately it largely hasn't panned out.
The draft and remainder of free agency will be telling, but if Myers continues to struggle in run blocking and we have another starting caliber guard I don't think moving Jenkins to C is off the table.
RCPackerFan
March 12, 2024 at 10:26 am
Dobber. This is what I'm really interested in seeing. How does Jacobs running ability change for LaFleurs offense.
Jones was great at the zone stretch. The OL was really good in the zone stretch. They aren't a power running team. They are built more for zone principles. So I'm curious to see how this changes the offense.
I don't think it will change a lot. but might be a few tweaks in the running game.
I also agree that they need a speedy shifty type of RB now. They need one more like Jones that can cut and explode. And that would be a great compliment to Jacobs
Bitternotsour
March 12, 2024 at 10:40 am
You need only look as far as Tennessee to see what Matt LaFleur will do with a power running back at his disposal. He will design a run scheme to highlight the talents of his running back. Tennessee avg 116 yds rushing per game and 4.3 yd per carry. They dominated time of possession. Jacobs, for what its worth, will help the defense by controlling the first downs gained. Our short yardage issues should be alleviated.
RCPackerFan
March 12, 2024 at 10:48 am
Something to keep in mind with Tennessee. They were a different OL also.
But that is what I'm wondering. How will he change our current run game/scheme.
mattgsx
March 12, 2024 at 12:27 pm
The offensive line opened some holes last year for Jones I could have driven my odyssey through. That said, I think the run blocking at center needs to get drastically better as I expect we will see less running out of the gun and more with Love under center or in the pistol.
LambeauPlain
March 12, 2024 at 10:42 am
I believe Jacobs can thrive in the wide ZBS. While Dillon struggled in it at times, Jacobs has what Jones has and AJD lacks...balance.
Jones succeeded in the WZBS with his balance and quickness...I believe Jacobs will with his balance and great power.
RCPackerFan
March 12, 2024 at 10:54 am
I think he could do well. I just don't know if they are wanting to change it up a bit more. Run more power concepts. More traps and pulls. Which if they do that, they may look at a different type of RG.
jannesbjornson
March 12, 2024 at 12:08 pm
The A.Jones clone probably comes in RD Two, or the the #88.
RCPackerFan
March 12, 2024 at 10:07 am
I think they like Wilson a lot. I wish he didn't get hurt when Jones did. I would have loved to have seen him with more work. Even if they like him they will need at least one more RB. Most likely through the draft.
As for adjusting. The biggest thing they would need to adjust is how they use 1 RB vs splitting reps with 2. They could potentially have a bell cow and then have a 3rd down back kind of like how they used to play the position.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 12, 2024 at 10:32 am
RC,
The team got better and we all still have fond memories! I will take that!
RCPackerFan
March 12, 2024 at 10:58 am
I believe the team did get better.
Bakhtiari essentially missed the whole season and has basically been hurt the last 3 years.
Campbell has not been the same player since his all pro year.
Savage missed a lot of time this last year and he wasn't the same player as he was his first couple of years.
Runyan was a good starter, but wasn't great. And this year he regressed imo as he started sharing the position with another OL.
Jones while dynamic did miss a lot of time this year. And is another year older.
We added a different style RB but a really good one who could really flourish in this offense.
And we added a really good S. One that could completely change the back end of our defense.
GregC
March 12, 2024 at 07:07 am
It was time for Gute to make a big move, and that's what he did by getting Xavier McKinney. Replacing Aaron Jones with Josh Jacobs is more of a lateral move, but it looks like Jones was on his way out before yesterday anyway. We just didn't know it.
Acquiring a high-priced free agent RB is very un-Packer-like. They have always stuck with their own RBs. This is a clear indication that the goal in 2024 is to win the Super Bowl. It will be interesting to see the details for the McKinney and Jacobs contracts. I'm hoping they don't pose problems down the road so the Super Bowl window can stay open for at least three or four years.
The more I think about it, the more I'm okay with losing Jones. His playing status was up in the air for most of last season. His injuries very nearly cost the team a playoff berth. Of course, the same thing can happen to any RB, but Jacobs is three years younger and has generally been healthy. Now Gute needs to get him a running mate.
T7Steve
March 12, 2024 at 08:00 am
They've done this before. It's like the Ahman Green (spell fix, thanks to Boneman below) trade from Seatle. We can hope for similar results.
Boneman
March 12, 2024 at 08:06 am
Do Ahman Green, James Starks or Ryan Grant ring any bells? Definitely a Packer thing to do but just not recently. Love AJ but he is an oft injured back getting paid top dollar and is going on 30. He should have accepted the pay cut but I understand why he didn't. Love to see him go to Cowboys or Texans.
GregC
March 12, 2024 at 08:28 am
James Starks was drafted by the Packers. Ryan Grant was an unknown player who was acquired by trade for a sixth round draft pick. Ahman Green was acquired by trade for an underperforming CB named Fred Vinson and an exchange of late round draft picks because he had fallen out of favor in Seattle due to fumbling problems. The fact that those trades turned out so well doesn't mean they were big trades at the time. Getting one of the best RBs in the league via free agency is a very different sort of thing.
SicSemperTyrannis
March 12, 2024 at 08:44 am
#33 to the Viqueens, along with Sam Darnold. Both on 1 year deals.
CanPackFan
March 12, 2024 at 09:54 am
I can see why Minny picked up Jones. They are going to have a tough year on offense if Darnold is the best they can do at QB - no disrespect intended. So, having Jones gives them a better running game. The question will be - how effective will Jonesy be if the defenses load the box too frequently?
Minny shouldn't have let Cousins go and the Pack likewise with Jones. The NFL is a tough business indeed!
jannesbjornson
March 12, 2024 at 12:15 pm
They will a pursue a QB in RD One.
mattgsx
March 12, 2024 at 08:17 am
From what has been reported so far they both look like fairly front-loaded deals, so it won't be too painful to move on in 2 years if either of them don't pan out, which lines up pretty well with the fact that they still need to work out a Jordan Love extension and there are a ton of 2026 free agents at the Packers are probably going to want to extend before they can come close to sniffing the open market.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 12, 2024 at 10:34 am
For the Packers to pay 'all the money' it would have been needed for Jones and Baktiari when you almost know both of them would 'guaranteed' to miss multiple games makes zero sense. For those gnashing their teeth over these guys departing I don't get it! The team got better by their departures in multiple ways.
PackfanNY
March 12, 2024 at 07:20 am
Always tough to say goodbye to good players. Even tougher to say goodbye to classy players who exemplify everything you want your team to be. Unfortunately this is part of the “business” of professional sports.
All that being said Gute is shrewdly setting up the Packers for a Championship run. They acquired a more physical YOUNGER player. They then turned and picked up a playmaking Safety who will help our new DC revamp our defense. The Packers still have some flexibility to add more before the Draft. If not, they are loaded with picks. The big picture is that the Packers are in great shape with a young talented team to stay a serious contender for years to come.
murf7777
March 12, 2024 at 07:22 am
For the next year, not sure they got better talent wise at RB. I think they are both very good backs. What they did is lower the salary cap and got younger. What a great contract the Packers negotiated, basically a one year lease, with the packers getting three one year options to continue or move on.
Unfortunately, one of my favorite players is gone, but it’s a business and age will catch up to everyone. Good Luck Aaron where ever you go! Hope you don’t go to a North team thou!
EDIT: A Jones just signed with the VIKINGS….YUK. One year 7M
SicSemperTyrannis
March 12, 2024 at 07:28 am
I think they didn't reduce the salary cap at all by swapping #33 for Jacobs. Hopefully it proves to be worth it.
GPG!
LambeauPlain
March 12, 2024 at 07:46 am
Seems they did SST...Jones was to count $12 M on the cap this season. Jacobs will count between $5-6 M. His deal is back loaded, team friendly.
Seems they offered Jones $7 M late last week for 2024 and he refused to play for that.
murf7777
March 12, 2024 at 07:52 am
Considering Barkley got 3 year 38M with around 25M guaranteed, this contract with 4 years and at 12.5M guaranteed is a steal for the Packers. Now go out and get a speed back, like Trey Benson in the 2nd or 3rd round.
SicSemperTyrannis
March 12, 2024 at 08:49 am
How much dead cap to #33 this season? I don't know how Jacobs gets $12MM / year but only counts 5 against the cap this season, but thanks for the update.
#33 wouldn't play for 7 in GB, but signed for that amount in MN? I could grumble about his agent but I'll refrain; seems odd tho.
LambeauPlain
March 12, 2024 at 09:29 am
I believe the first year is by far the lowest in salary of the 4 years with the large signing bonus prorated equally each year...hence the $5-6 M year one cap hit.
Good deal for the Pack and Jacobs still gets a nice payday.
T7Steve
March 12, 2024 at 08:04 am
If he took the 7 from the Vikings, wonder why wouldn't he take it from the Packers? He didn't officially sign yet, maybe there's still a chance. May as well grab Greg Jennings back too. HA!
murf7777
March 12, 2024 at 09:42 am
He might’ve felt slighted that the Packers told him to take a pay cut two years in a row. I can understand such a feeling. That said, IMO the Packers made the right move considering the favorable contract they signed for Jacob’s and he’s 3+ years younger.
baldski
March 12, 2024 at 07:02 pm
I agree, he could not stay in Green Bay for that money. It did not show any respect.
Bitternotsour
March 12, 2024 at 07:12 pm
Now he gets to try to sell a house in a bad housing market, relocate his family, live in a town he's unfamiliar with, in a locker room with entirely new faces, with new coaches, a new line and new schemes, but sure, he was disrespected.
He may have deserved better in your mind, but deserves as someone recently said, got nothing to do with it.
CheesedDeadHead
March 12, 2024 at 09:57 am
I believe it was only about $5M cap hit, but a $11-12M salary savings that they are using to pay some of Jacobs and the rest for McKinney. They are by far getting more in salary savings than cap savings.
mattgsx
March 12, 2024 at 01:57 pm
Even if Jacobs only lasts one year it is still a pretty significant reduction.
Jones was over 17 million in cap hit plus a couple million more in void year restructure money moves next year. I think total cap hit was around $20MM
Jacobs cap hit this year will be around $5MM. If they cut him after this year there will be about $9MM in dead cap ($14MM and change total).
If he plays only one year, it is still about a 6 million dollar savings compared to letting Jones run out his contract, and $9 million of Cap relief this year.
If Jacobs plays two years, which is what it sounds like the deal is written to really be, the total cap hit will be around 23 million. So it's a matter of whether you want to "pay" 23 million to 2 years of Jacobs or $20MM for one year of Jones
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 12, 2024 at 10:36 am
Murf,
Let's see what Gutey does yet in FA and the draft. I believe Gutey signed Jacobs to be an improved Dillon (combo of Dillon and Jones) but the true replacement of Jones is yet to be drafted.
murf7777
March 12, 2024 at 01:19 pm
I agree and they have a lot of draft capital to work with. Although, I think Jacobs is closer to Jones than Dillon.
stockholder
March 12, 2024 at 07:26 am
I see too many problems arising from this signing.
It was irresponsible. And disrespected many.
The money could have been used else where.
The Packers have internal problems letting Jones walk.
And when the Giants let X go when a Defense is terrible.
Well; It's usually a indication of the Riffs with coaches.
My feeling is they just over-paid for a guy that over-achieved.
You just don't get those numbers if your opponent is afraid of you.
mattgsx
March 12, 2024 at 08:37 am
The Giants have a mediocre at best QB on an absolute albatross of a contract and are giving Brian Burns a huge deal. I could be wrong, but McKinney looks more like a cap casualty to me.
Bitternotsour
March 12, 2024 at 09:50 am
there are a lot of teams trying to knock their salary numbers down at the safety position, and the Giants rolled the dice. Every team has a plan, even sorry ass teams like the Giants and the Vikings. The Vikings plan is to get bent over a table and pounded into mediocrity (apparently).
The Giants want to pressure the quarterback, the secondary be damned.
stockholder
March 12, 2024 at 10:14 am
Then they should have traded him
Bitternotsour
March 12, 2024 at 10:52 am
You have the naivety of a child. As in any transaction, there has to be a buyer. No one was buying that Aaron Jones contract. The market was awash in running backs, why sacrifice draft capital when you can sign someone for free.
Aaron Jones is a really nice player, and he did admirable work for the team when he was in the lineup. He was never an every down back in this league, in fact he was coddled by Mike McCarthy because of it. (Mike was right, it extended AJ's career). Josh Jacobs is a lunchpail back, he will get better with use rather than breaking like glass.
Like it or not, Matt LeFleur just completely rebuilt his team culture. This is his (and Jordan's) team now. The toxicity of the Rodgers era is past. You should embrace the change, change is good.
stockholder
March 12, 2024 at 11:24 am
I don't like Two faced cutthroat GMs.
He signed a contract!
And Jones did nothing to break it.
Just stop Spraying Gute all over Lambeau.
Try giving the players there due.
Gute is a company Prick.
It's time you and others see him for what he is.
There will be No job appreciation
as long as Gute is GM.
This is Now a union matter.
Expect a player strike coming.
dobber
March 12, 2024 at 01:15 pm
"I don't like Two faced cutthroat GMs.
He signed a contract!"
Sure, the Packers can manage their roster by a paradigm that the league has left behind while everyone else plays by different rules.
The Packers would effectively be bringing a knife to a gunfight.
Players win by getting back on the market and getting another round of guaranteed money. There's no union beef coming here.
stockholder
March 12, 2024 at 02:51 pm
There is always a Bitch when you lose money.
So far the smart ones are taking the Bonus money.
It's being replaced by Rookies that they won't like.
jannesbjornson
March 12, 2024 at 12:37 pm
We knew the terms of the Refi when A.Jones missed half the season with nagging Injuries. In any case, It's water over the Dam, Let's Mock:
#26 Jordan Morgan LT Arizona
#41 T. Sweat DT Texas
#58 Cooper Beebe OG K State
#88 Cole Bishop S Utah
#91 Bucky Irving RB Oregon
#97 Junior Colson LB Michigan
#126 Blake Watson RB Memphis
#149 Beau Limmer OC Arkansas
#202 Ulofoshio LB U Wash
#219 Kimani Vidal RB/KR Troy
#245 A. .Gould WR/PR OR State
#255 Nelson Ceaser Edge Houston
The Giants chose Brian Burns over a safety. I would make the same move. X is a better Tackler than Savage,
a head-scratching move to begin with in 2019 when he was snagged @ #21. Jacobs chosen #24. Montez Sweat #26 and a loaded Rd Two???
stockholder
March 12, 2024 at 02:54 pm
12 Q. Mitchell. CB. Toledo
Denver 25 and 58
41. Ed Cooper. LB. T@M
88. Christian Jones OT Tex
91 Nat Watson. LB. Mis st
125 Javon Soloman Edge. Troy
168 Tanor Bortolini. IOL WI
201 Trey Taylor. DB AF
219 Jackson Sirmon LB. CA
219. Jawon Briggs. DT. Cinn.
245. Caedan Wallace. OL. Penn st.
255. Jase McClellan. RB. AL
jannesbjornson
March 12, 2024 at 06:59 pm
I'll take Jones over a boat anchor RT. He's moving up boards with a good wingspan and quick feet. Not as heavy as Morgan. Now, the move UP for Q.Mitchell makes sense.
LambeauPlain
March 12, 2024 at 07:29 am
Hard business. I still have hope Jones may yet return to the Packers to form the best RB duo in the NFL. Probably a fool's hope.
Seeing initial contract terms, it seems the Packers offered Jones less than half the salary he was due to earn for 2024. He declined that offer last Friday. Then Team Gutey went hard at Jacobs.
However, before thinking Jones was miffed because of the large K offered Jacobs, not likely. Jacob's K is mostly back loaded and actually just counts around $5-6 M on the cap this season. And if Jacobs under-delivers, the team can exit the K after 2024 with very manageable dead money. Even after 2025, the sting of a release is not too onerous. It is a Packer friendly deal.
So if reports are true Jones was only offered $7 M for this season, he could still return to the Packers and remain the top paid Packer RB for 2024. But he's going to shop his talent and get some attractive offers...Ugly Purple and McCarthy and Jerry, for example. But if the offers are far less than blockbuster, who knows?
HarryHodag
March 12, 2024 at 07:44 am
At the end of the day it was an extremely good day for the Packers.
Contrary to other beliefs stated above, Josh Jacobs is an elite NFL runner. He's also durable and tough as hell. I liked Aaron Jones, but his fragility led to his exit. Always remember sentimentality gets you beaten. You couple a nasty running game with the Packers passing and look out!
McKinney is considered among the top three free agent safeties. Now they have a true head hunter in the secondary.
Now they need another linebacker.
David B was a top shelf tackle but he hasn't been at that level since 2020. Lest you think the Packers are bad guys the team paid him handsomely to mostly rehab the last three years.
Runyan was on his way to being replaced.
Savage already was replaced.
I suspect after the draft we're all going to be having dreams of Super Bowl.
LambeauPlain
March 12, 2024 at 07:50 am
Yes...LB definitely on the draft menu but now I see OL as the first course. And the OL class is deliciously deep with marquee players at the top and plenty of opportunities to find good players on days 2 and 3, as the Packers are adept at doing.
SicSemperTyrannis
March 12, 2024 at 08:55 am
Gutey needs to draft 3 O linemen. I hope for round 1, with at least one more high pick going there. One more FA at ILB or S makes that a lot more possible ...
SicSemperTyrannis
March 12, 2024 at 09:14 am
Jacobs ran the 40 in 4.52 the day after his 4.64 he wasn't satisfied with. He's also squatted 550# recently, x 2 reps.
Did not bench at the combine but he has benches #405 years ago, and I expect that's only increased since. Could make for a nasty stiff arm. Nor did he do the typical agility drills. I've got to dig up a highlight reel ...
LambeauPlain
March 12, 2024 at 09:25 am
The F35 that was Jones is being replaced by a Jacobs Abrams M1 tank.
Both runners are very difficult to bring down...Jones with sublime balance and quickness...Jacobs brings balance and tremendous power.
I am more excited about the McKinney hiring...but I do like the new JJ too!
dobber
March 12, 2024 at 09:27 am
People forget that Jacobs got virtually no help from the QB position and played behind an OL that struggled to play well and stay healthy last year.
LambeauPlain
March 12, 2024 at 09:33 am
And played for a failed HC who was dumped (again) during the season.
Bitternotsour
March 12, 2024 at 09:53 am
He also held out all of training camp last year and was disgruntled over his contract status, and felt disrespected. This year he integrates with the team, embraces a great young qb - and plays with other former SEC stars who also won national championships. Should be some quality banter in that locker room...
jannesbjornson
March 12, 2024 at 12:44 pm
After Winfield was Franchised, McKinney moved up the List. The real Packer Tragedy is the loss of Bhaktiari with his knee issues. An ALL-PRO who couldn't keep up with his body. This guy would have been a candidate for the HOF if he could have endured.
dobber
March 12, 2024 at 01:09 pm
You need to go back to the failed Jason Spriggs pick to set up the tragedy of the contract that never panned out. It might be that Bakh never gets that contract if Spriggs turned out to be a player.
jannesbjornson
March 12, 2024 at 02:28 pm
I highly doubt that scenario. Spriggs was a TE conversion project with the projection to quality backup. Spriggs may have had a chance as a Center, but lacked the upper body.
CheesedDeadHead
March 12, 2024 at 08:02 am
AJ to Vikings on 1 year deal to be Sam Darnolds wingman. Good luck with that!
SicSemperTyrannis
March 12, 2024 at 08:55 am
Will make for 2 very unusual Packers games ...
PackfanNY
March 12, 2024 at 11:00 am
Well we lived through several Favre in purple games. That will always be beyond unusual. 😂
Starrbrite
March 12, 2024 at 08:19 am
I’m seriously jazzed about the FA signings. My two top wishes were McKinney and Jacobs, although I thot we would keep Jones. Believe me —we got better—much better—and I don’t believe Gutey is finished. Possibly Wagner, or someone else next?
It’s difficult watching Jones sign with the Vikings, but they are the ultimate poachers.
Now with 11 picks forthcoming, the sky is the limit.
Go Packers!!!
SicSemperTyrannis
March 12, 2024 at 08:59 am
McKinney playing like Superman in the middle of the field will make this signing look like genius. If he goes down injured, it will look like a bad move. High reward, high risk; they tend to go together. His chemistry in the room will be a huge factor, however that works out; GB will still be drafting and developing there, and veteran leadership would be huge.
Jacobs too ...
golfpacker1
March 12, 2024 at 08:23 am
Why wouldn't Green Bay just trade Jones? At least then we would have had a 20% chance to send him farther away than a rival. Did they seriously think no one would show interest? What a waste of a potential draft pick, not to mention a comp pick.
GregC
March 12, 2024 at 08:34 am
They must have thought of that. Maybe he had a no-trade clause in his contract, or more likely, his contract made him untradeable.
mattgsx
March 12, 2024 at 08:40 am
Green Bay also didn't have any leverage after Jones's agent effectively told reporters that Jones was going to be cut by Green Bay if he didn't agree to a pay cut.
LambeauPlain
March 12, 2024 at 08:45 am
That's what I believe, Greg...K is too big to swallow and the Ugly Purple just signed him for a far less costly deal.
Jones in the nauseating Jersey is unfortunate. I still wish him well for 15 of the games during next season.
SicSemperTyrannis
March 12, 2024 at 09:01 am
Viqueens signed #33 for the same amount GB offered him last week.
I have more than a few choice words for his agent ...
GregC
March 12, 2024 at 10:31 am
That first time seeing a former Packer in a Vikings uniform is always a bit surreal. It's like seeing a familiar and beloved person wearing an orange prison jumpsuit.
LambeauPlain
March 12, 2024 at 10:52 am
Or seeing your former girlfriend riding around with some dwerb.
zeke
March 12, 2024 at 08:48 am
Who would trade for that contract?
dobber
March 12, 2024 at 09:32 am
There's a glut of playable RB on the FA market. Trading for Jones means you likely re-do his contract right away on a guy who might play 2 seasons. Why not sign a younger guy to your own terms?
golfpacker1
March 12, 2024 at 10:42 am
Because Jones is a proven really good veteran RB who is when healthy, runs and catches the ball really well, is a strong blocker, and a great teammate. What's not to like? His is a true gamechanger.
13TimeChamps
March 12, 2024 at 12:51 pm
It's kind of like trying to move up in the draft. It takes two to tango. Why would a team trade for someone who is about to be cut and you don't have to give up draft capital to get him?
It sure sucks he went to Minny though.
Packerpasty
March 12, 2024 at 10:44 am
no team would give up anything much in a trade when all these running back were about to hit the F/A market...and when Jones hired Drew R the writing was on the wall...if Jones really wanted to stay a Packer he could have worked out a deal himself, as an aging RB he obviously wanted a best deal avail....He probably wanted to go to Dallas but they weren't in the position to pay much for a RB as are other teams...most teams are wary of back who are turning 30 and spent many games injured...so a millionaire moves on...its business, it's sports..
PackfanNY
March 12, 2024 at 11:02 am
His contract made that untenable. Vikings are only in the hook for $7m.
BA4Pack
March 12, 2024 at 08:24 am
My priorities:
Pick up one of the mid level FA ILB remaining and draft IOL in the first 2 rounds.
CanPackFan
March 12, 2024 at 10:12 am
I would add a place kicker to this priority list. Anders is not good enough for us to compete big time. I'd pay more money to get Folk!
LeotisHarris
March 12, 2024 at 08:34 am
Aaaaand, Aaron Jones to the Vikings because that's the way it goes. F*ck!
golfpacker1
March 12, 2024 at 08:40 am
I hope no Packer fans make $hit out of Jones now that he is a Viking. He was and still is a very good NFL player and if you think he won't be motivated to beat us then we are in fantasyland. What a bad turn of events.
The Packers screwed up bigtime on this deal, no way around it. I get that the 2 sides couldn't come to an agreement, but to not try to trade him far away is stupid. And to miss out on getting some compensation for him is bad business. A later draft pick and a comp pick were just thrown away. Any team trading for Jones would have signed him to a new contract.
LambeauPlain
March 12, 2024 at 08:54 am
I don't agree. Jones could have played next season in Green Bay for close to what he will earn playing behind Sam Darnold. He was slated to earn $12 M this year. Packers offered a bit more than half that to remain and not be cut...Drew R and Jones said no...so released.
After that decision came down late last week, Team Gutey went hard after Jacobs, hired him and will pay him salary that will count between $5-6 on the cap.
Don't see that as a big time screw up, golfpacker1. What are you seeing? Decisions on great players like Jones are not fun. They are necessary.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 12, 2024 at 10:39 am
Golf,
Why?
Just like many thought the trading of Favre, or Rodgers was a big screw-up. There is a lot of time to see what Gutey is up to. Then it is time to watch the team perform.
golfpacker1
March 12, 2024 at 10:53 am
Knock, what i am upset about is if we didn't at least try to trade Jones, we missed an opportunity to get some compensation back. Like a Day 3 pick and a comp pick next year. As well as keeping a division rival from getting their hands on him.
I fail to see why that would get me downvoted. It's just good business. Bakhs release is just the opposite. His injuries have rendered him untradeable. Jones was tradeable.
zeke
March 12, 2024 at 11:19 am
How do you know they didn't try to trade him? And why would anyone trade for someone whose market value (we now know) was half of what his contract called for? Maybe if you explain that to the uninformed idiots they'll apologize for the downvotes.
Duhawk_47
March 12, 2024 at 01:41 pm
No argument with regard to the stink of losing a talent and a Packer the likes of Aaron Jones. Comp picks are the result of a net loss of compensatory free agents OR minority staff/executiyves. Technically, no comp picks could result from an A. Jones trade. It would have been whatever the trade partner was willing to cough up for Jones.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 12, 2024 at 01:53 pm
Golf,
No downvote from me. Rarely do downvotes for anyone unless they 'work hard for it' as people's opinions are what makes Cheesehead TV so fun.....when you have time to participate.
golfpacker1
March 12, 2024 at 10:48 am
Wow that's a new record on downvotes. Thank you for being uninformed idiots.
zeke
March 12, 2024 at 11:07 am
You're welcome.
13TimeChamps
March 12, 2024 at 02:40 pm
No reason to call anyone "uninformed idiots" just because someone disagrees with you.
Why would any team want to take on AJ's contract PLUS give up draft capital when they can just wait for him to be released and sign him for less money AND keep their draft pick?
Packers0808
March 12, 2024 at 09:07 am
Jones was being stubborn it seems after his signing with Vikings, he will regret. He took a 10 million pay cut to play for a rival when he could have even after cut make more with Packers. Sounds more like he didn't want to be a Packer and have really solid competition or share more carries! My guess ego got in the way! Hate to see the guy go great player and leadership!
mrtundra
March 12, 2024 at 09:18 am
Isn't that the way it goes, it seems, with Packers who go to the vikings? They go purple and get paid less than what they would have if they had stayed in GB. It happened to Jennings and now it happened to Jones. Oh well! I'm hoping Jacobs works out well for GBP. Looking for another RB, in the draft, too.
mattgsx
March 12, 2024 at 01:32 pm
I'm not sure where you're getting that.
His salary this year was 12 million and Green Bay was asking him to take a 50% pay cut.
His cap hit included both that salary, as well as amortized signing bonus which is paid upfront and spread over multiple years worth of cap. I believe there is also a dead money hit that would have hit our cap next year due to the way his contract was written with void years.
Even if he had agreed to that pay cut, Jones playing out his contract on a 6 million salary this year still would have cost the Packers closer to 14 million over this year and next, which, incidentally, is almost exactly how Jacobs' contract is written. He is making about 14 million this year (about 5 million against the cap). If they cut him after this year the remaining 9 million hits the cap next year. If he plays through 2 years of his deal the total cap hit is about 23 million.
When you look at it that way, it's a question of whether you would rather pay 20 million for one year of Aaron Jones, or 23 million for 2 years of a younger player that recently led the league in rushing and has shown over multiple years he doesn't need to play on a pitch count.
egbertsouse
March 12, 2024 at 09:11 am
I’m sad about AJ but good riddance to Bahktiari. He can join his bs spouting buddy in NY. He must have spent too much time on the internet while he was collecting his millions for not playing.
zeke
March 12, 2024 at 09:16 am
Or, his knee was completely trashed and he did what he could to get back on the field after multiple surgeries.
T7Steve
March 12, 2024 at 09:34 am
I wish he'd just retire. Knee replacements aren't fun. Hope the best for him and all ex-Packers for that matter.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 12, 2024 at 01:58 pm
But my understanding (correct me if wrong) is that even though from the whole time he has had that unfortunate injury (right after signing that very fortunate contract when he did) he has never worked with the Packers to restructure the contract to help the team out. I believe I recently read that.....does this resonate with others understanding?
If true, I believe that adds a whole new layer when evaluating David besides the fact he has perfected the guzzling of beer in his time away. There usually is a lot behind the scenes that goes on when contemplating the future of a player for the GBP's and rightly so!
Leatherhead
March 12, 2024 at 09:22 am
Once you sign with the Purple, you’re dead to me.
We got better. Good work by Gutekunst. Packers getting rid of old, expensive players who won’t be part of the Love Window. Or Murphys last team.
LambeauPlain
March 12, 2024 at 09:45 am
Totally agree. It was painful to put up with my MN fishing buddies when Favre got all horny and stuff going to the Ugly Purple.
They will have more fun at my expense...that's ok. I am a happy Packer Fan today.
Gutey is not afraid to make difficult decisions and make them urgently.
jannesbjornson
March 12, 2024 at 12:58 pm
Like moving UP for Savage.
mattgsx
March 12, 2024 at 01:34 pm
Or like moving up for Love.
jannesbjornson
March 12, 2024 at 02:42 pm
Love was the best Value at #26-29 where he was projected to be chosen. I liked the Love pick. Not the case with Savage.
Bitternotsour
March 12, 2024 at 10:58 am
and the last vestiges of the "Rodgers locker room" have been excised. it is well and truly MLF's team now. all hail the new culture.
Leatherhead
March 12, 2024 at 11:24 am
I'm thinking in term of Love's window, and how we're putting the players around him that will be on the field with him in big games over the next several years. Almost by definition, that means that some of the guys up near 30 aren't going to be here at the end of that time, so it seems better to go ahead and make the switch now. I'd kind of been thinking in terms of it being Murphy's last year, but now I see it as the beginning of the Love window.
I am praying to the football gods to get us some blockers in the draft. Some premium beef to protect Love and open holes for the RB over the next several years. The receivers are under contract. We have part of the RB solution. Put some blockers on the field and score points.
dobber
March 12, 2024 at 09:49 am
There's a certain amount of shock that comes with seeing the Packers active on Day 1 of free agency. We've heard that they'd be "kicking the tires" every year, but they rarely are buyers on day 1.
I think they stabilized the key positional deficiency on defense yesterday. The Packers attacked a position they likely weren't going to be able to address at the level they wanted through the draft...and they still need at least one if not two S in the draft. They created some wiggle room. They've lacked in quality safety play, and McKinney is a high-end guy. They were a very average defense last year by most measures (except pts. scored), and were lousy at forcing INTs. Can't help but wonder where they would've landed if they had quality S play rather than trotting out a lot of replacement level guys (and below).
I'm iffy on Jacobs if only because I don't think his run style isn't so well suited to how the Packers have built their OL. Does this signal a change toward more power-gap running?...and if so, they need to find a couple IOL who are more adept at power concepts. I'm not so worried about his age and usage to date--LaF likes to rotate backs. They likely still need a shifty, speedy RB to threaten the edges of a defense, but that comes through the draft.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 12, 2024 at 10:44 am
Dobber,
Always one of the most thoughtful posters here at CCTV. I believe Gutey is going to be drafting OL who are strong run blockers. If you see the Packers drafting someone like Barton you know that is exactly what he is thinking. I have been putting myself out there that I believe Gutey will be drafting an Aaron Jones-type running back relatively early this year. He saw and knows the importance of a strong running game to go along with Jordan Love and the passing game.
golfpacker1
March 12, 2024 at 11:08 am
Is someone like Powers-Johnson or Beebe a better solution fix/upgrade to our OL than say Suamataia would be with our first pick? All 3 would help, but what position is the most important right now, interior or a 3rd OT?
GB had to move fast after the stalemate with Jones. Whether Jacobs returns to his earlier RB glory with the Raiders is the key. Although it sounds like Jacob's contract is easier to walk away from if he isn't up to expectations. McKinney's is just the opposite, but he is younger and coming off a great season.
Either way we are probably still doubling RB and S through the draft.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 12, 2024 at 11:41 am
Golf,
Man, it almost seems like a toss-up on the surface doesn't it between OT and IOL? My response is it ALL DEPENDS on what the Packers think they have with any of these three OL.
1. Yosh Nijman - 28 years old - 6'7" and 314 lbs
2. Caleb Jones - 25 years old - 6'9" and 370 lbs
3. Luke Tenuta - 24 years old - 6'8" and 314 lbs
I have not heard anything about Nijman and what has happened to him. I had heard some positives about Tenuta but he was injured last year. It all starts with these guys and what the Packers think they have in them. After that take a good long look at how the draft unfolds. I do think the Packers are looking to improve their run blocking and we know Sean R. will help at RG. If either Powers-Johnson or Graham Barton are available at #25 they certainly will be tempting to Gutey depending on who else is on the board. There are many good OT's available in round 1 in addition to the aforementioned. I do like both Powers and Barton. Immediate upgrade on the inside without question. Whether Barton can play OT in the NFL (even if only in a pinch) would be a key factor.
mattgsx
March 12, 2024 at 12:13 pm
Nijman is a FA and Jones was a healthy scratch every game this year. Nijman would be good to bring back if the price is right, but I think he is going to want the chance to get starter money to compete for a starting spot.
I think Tenuta will have a chance to compete for a tackle spot, which makes things interesting since Jenkins can play any position on the line and Tom has tackle/center versatility.
If there is a solid OT prospect available in the first or second round that Green Bay really likes, I would have no problem with them being drafted. I know there are several college tackles out there who probably profile closer to guard and could be a day one starter, which would free Green Bay up to move Jenkins to either center or one of the tackle spots depending on how everything shakes out, or they could look at a day two/three guy (or two) that can provide depth at multiple positions on the line and compete for a permanent starting spot in 2025 and beyond.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 12, 2024 at 01:50 pm
Mat,
All points I agree with. It took Nijman several years to evolve on the practice squad. Has Jones evolved while losing more weight to be a good backup OT? Will the Packers put more money into keeping Nijman? I would be surprised if he comes back because if he does he knows he will not start. The money is in him leaving and starting somewhere. Tenuta sounded like there might be something there but I have no idea. The Jenkins point is a good one to always remember. I would venture a guess he stays at guard and is used in a pinch if needed at OT.
mattgsx
March 12, 2024 at 03:48 pm
I think it's super telling that they didn't even bring C Jones out on special teams to use his enormous reach to try to block kicks.
I was super excited about the little I saw/heard about him in camp and they obviously liked him enough to burn a roster spot all year on him... but it concerns me they went a whole year without finding a way to get him suited up, especially with how many players were inactive from week to week due to injuries but still on the 53.
I have no clue what the market is for Yosh. It sounds like he may have taken a step backwards going into camp last year, and the fact that he got beat out by Walker and was probably behind Tenuta before his injury is telling. I don't think we could justify paying $5 million dollars again for a number four tackle. If he is still available after the draft and is willing to accept something closer to vet minimum plus a signing bonus, I would be all for it.
dobber
March 12, 2024 at 01:50 pm
"All 3 would help, but what position is the most important right now, interior or a 3rd OT?"
I think part would hang on whether you see Jenkins as a viable tackle for short-term fill in case of injury. If so, I think you've got some room to develop a T prospect to compete with Jones and Tenuta if they'd rather chase IOL. Either way, I think they gots to draft 3 OL.
NJMagic
March 12, 2024 at 10:04 am
Jones took *7 million* from Vikings.
1 more than Packers asked.
What the hell?
Packers - you couldn't bridge that difference??
Jones - 1 million vs all the forever Packers marketing $$ including HOF?
CanPackFan
March 12, 2024 at 10:07 am
I was thinking the exact same thing!
Houndog
March 12, 2024 at 11:24 am
NJMagic,
I think Jones had had enough! He restructured his contract numerous times to help the team, and took a $5m pay-cut last year.
He then went to CA on his own time and his own dime to work with Love and the young receivers during the off-season. The camaraderie between them was evident on the sidelines this past season. He was the leader.
He was the best player on the field for the last few games of the season and without that they likely wouldn't have made the playoffs where he again played great.
The reward was a Low-ball offer to stay, I'd have told Gutey to Fuck-Off too!
NFLfan
March 12, 2024 at 11:54 am
I am with Gute on this one. Jones was just not able to play more than 6-7 games without a pitch count. He is a lovely person with a lot of heart but Gute has to think about the team's health.
He has been paid very handsomely and treated well by GB, IMO.
LambeauPlain
March 12, 2024 at 12:13 pm
It does not appear the Packers were approached to bridge the difference. Very un-Jones like until one realizes his agent is Drew Roenhaus.
NFLfan
March 12, 2024 at 12:18 pm
@LP-Agree. Jones was not represented well by him
CanPackFan
March 12, 2024 at 10:07 am
I was sad at both the Jones and Bakh moves. The latter was a foregone conclusion. The former, well, just unexpected and sad.
But I was totally shocked to see the contract that Runyan got - averaging $10 Mil per year? No disrespect intended, but I think he is being grossly over paid given his time with us. Now maybe our expectations of Oline players are higher than the Giants? Possibly. But paying probably 3 times more than his worth just seems mind blowing! You have to wonder how desperate the Giants were to pay this amount for a guy who was having trouble being a starter here in GB?
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 12, 2024 at 10:47 am
Losing Runyan was the only loss I am bummed out because at 26 years old he is only hitting his prime in the coming years. At the very least he was a fantastic backup at multiple positions. However, the $10 million is not worth it. Look for a very strong run blocker in the draft.
CheesedDeadHead
March 12, 2024 at 11:57 am
Prime Runyon is only a draft away from being replaced.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 12, 2024 at 02:03 pm
Cheese,
I understand and not disagreeing but he was a good guy, a good player, and he loved being a GBP. He was only 26 years old and for an OL that is just hitting their prime. The real issue is that Gutey has to utilize a draft pick now just to try replacing him when there is/was a need for another OT, an OC, and a Guard by my estimate. The Packers will need a minimum of 3 OL in the draft and quite possibly 4 depending on Nijman and Newman. Runyan was experienced and established and the Packers could win with him.
However, no way was he worth the $10 million to the Packers.
GregC
March 12, 2024 at 12:09 pm
Hitting his prime? He lost his job as a full time starter last year.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 12, 2024 at 02:05 pm
He also was injured somewhat and let's face it....Rhyan was a 3rd round selection. He should lose his job! My point was he was a good player, particularly for a 6th-round selection and he would have been valuable and a huge upgrade over Newman, etc. However, not for the price and his going unsigned made sense.
SinceLombardi
March 12, 2024 at 10:14 am
Same or less money and a full season on turf. Maybe Aaron’s agent didn’t do him any favors.
NJMagic
March 12, 2024 at 10:51 am
Just so disappointing. This seems like a massive breakdown in communication, that his agent oversold him on his market. I can't imagine a 1 year, net 1+ million contract is what AJ had in mind when he turned down the Packers offer.
Bitternotsour
March 12, 2024 at 11:01 am
Not a betting person, but I believe that Josh Jacobs has at least 50% more touches than Aaron Jones at the end of the season. This was a transaction that is lopsidedly in the Packers favor.
Houndog
March 12, 2024 at 11:04 am
Bakhtiari was a victim to injury, and that's a shame for a player that could have been a HOF'er.
Jones, on the other hand sealed the deal by being the best offensive player on the field the last 5 games of the season (including playoffs). The Packers are on the rise, and maybe even Superbowl contenders.
Gutekunst couldn't possibly allow one of Ted Thompson's draft picks to lead them to the promised land, so goodbye Aaron Jones!
If they don't win it next year, Kenny Clark will be jettisoned too, if not sooner!
NFLfan
March 12, 2024 at 11:38 am
@HD-5 games is a very small sample size. We would be howling @ Gutekunst if he hadn't upgraded the RB position. Jones could have been more realistic about his market value-- injury history, age, pitch count requirements
Saquon Barkley just got $37+M for a 3-year deal. Jones is nowhere near his level and was demanding too much---This just in***-The Vikings just signed Jones for 1 year for 7M-that's his true market value.
mattgsx
March 12, 2024 at 04:22 pm
Jones playing out his contract would have cost the Packers close to 20 million against the cap over this year and next. You can't field a championship football team with a 30 year old RB on a pitch count with that kind of cap hit.
There's a bit of perverse irony here as Aaron Rodgers is probably a big part of the reason Jones got the last extension he got, but it was Rogers extension and restructures needed to be done to absorb dead cap to facilitate his trade that made the Jones and Clark contracts absolute albatrosses.
Clark is a FA next year and I don't see how GB could afford him. Even if the Packers extended Clark for 2 more years and converted most of his salary this year to signing bonus, his cap hit over the next two years would still be astronomically high because of the dead money spread out over three void years that will otherwise be hitting the cap at the end of the year this year - he is currently making around $17MM per year and I would assume he will want more than that to stick around considering what the Chiefs just did for Chris Jones - I have to imagine Clark would want a min of $25MM/year with significant guarantees. That would lower his cap hit a bit this year, but balloon it to something like $31-32MM next year unless GB wants to keep playing funny money with void years (and they have to stop doing that unless they want the Jordan love era to hit a crash and burn point in a couple years). Clark is good, but I don't think he is 32 million against the cap good, especially when we have multiple offensive linemen and receivers that will hit free agency after the 2025 season unless extensions can also be worked out.
golfpacker1
March 12, 2024 at 11:13 am
One small upside to Runyan, Savage, and Jones signing elsewhere is that Green Bay could still score a comp pick next year, depending on what else we do. It's not super important at this point and it means we have improved our team in the process.
Now we need a LB. Since we are swinging for the fences this year, I really want Devin White, but Bobby Wagner would be a helluva 2-year upgrade/bridge consolation prize.
Clark's replacement will be picked in the 2025 draft where the DT class is much stronger than this years. Lots of big, athletic run stoppers in the 2025 class.
Leatherhead
March 12, 2024 at 11:36 am
I'm continuing to ponder the LB thing. If we play 2.5 linebackers per snap, with an average of 64 snaps in a game, that'd be 160 snaps I'm assuming that Walker and McDuffie are going to get about 100 of those. Beyond that, we're looking at guys like Cox, or maybe letting somebody like Smith or Gary play OLB in some situations. I think we're going to have to get a guy who can come in and play.
There's gotta be somebody .....not White or Wagner....who could come in and give us 30 good snaps a game at OLB.
Thanks for the cheery news on Runyan, Savage, and Jones. Runyan's $30M offer was a shocker to me. The Giants must think they drafted his Daddy. I mean, I like Runyan as much as the next guy, and I as hoping we'd keep him, but not at anything near half that.
Runyan is making more money than Jones, or Savage. He's done OK as a Day 3 guy. He's not even close to 30 yet, and he's set for life, and so are all the little Runyans.
mattgsx
March 12, 2024 at 04:47 pm
I actually don't hate Wagner depending on the price. If he is willing to take pay appropriate to a situational player and the Packers don't need to lean on him for pass coverage, he would pair well with a draft pick that needs time to get up to speed.
White would be an unmitigated disaster.
mattgsx
March 12, 2024 at 04:24 pm
Jones was a release. He will not count against a comp pick formula.
cheezyone
March 13, 2024 at 09:07 am
The Pack won't get a comp pick for Jones, because he was released.
NFLfan
March 12, 2024 at 11:26 am
Normally, I can be sentimental, but it was clear for several weeks that Jones was not going to budge on salary. In 2023 he was out of commission for 6 games with all types of injuries and often on a pitch count after returning from said absences. He could have factored in his age and absences and worked with the Packers to come up with a more team-friendly deal. He did not and my guess is he will find out his true market value.
Bakhtiari has been gone for 3 years! C'mon troups, both players were treated well & paid handsomely. Green Bay bent over backwards for Bakhtiari. I am thrilled that type of player is finally removed-sorry, not sorry. I include Campbell in that group. Some players wear out their welcome, IMO. Teams don't need 'personalities', they need players with grit and character.
'Personality' & sentimentality got in the way with both of those players and it hampered the ability of both sides to see clearly.
golfpacker1
March 12, 2024 at 01:27 pm
You are right NFL. It's hard to move on from players we like and especially if they have "Done it the right way." When Rodgers was traded only a small group on here kept him in our spotlight and discussions. 90% of the Packer fans were more than ready for him to be gone.
Jones is a different story, as is Bakhtiari. Davids body, specifically his knee, just wore out. It happens all the time.
Jones still has something left in the tank, but was way overpaid for what the return was. Again, he is 30, and that's older for an NFL running back. The Packers made a "fair" offer considering what Jones is worth in today's market, and factoring in how many games he will probably miss going forward. Some Packers sites are saying that GBs offer was an insult. No, it wasn't, it's just business and it isn't always pretty.. Players come and players go. The salary cap really works in the NFL, and teams can't keep all the players, even really good ones, because of it.
Hopefully Jones and Bakh come back someday, and sign 1-day contracts, so they can retire as the Packer's greats that they were.
golfpacker1
March 12, 2024 at 05:35 pm
Bears just signed Jonathon Owens
golfpacker1
March 12, 2024 at 06:24 pm
Willie Gay to the Saints-1 year $3 million. How did we miss that?
Josey Jewel to the Panthers, apparently, we were interested too.
My two favorites are still out there, Devin White and Bobby Wagner.
cheezyone
March 13, 2024 at 09:03 am
Gute's final offer to Aaron Jones was 4 million, with 2 million in incentives. From the Queens he got 6 million with 1 mil in incentives. So the contract looks like only 1 mil different, but that is really not the case. The agent gave a counter offer, but the Pack declined, and took their offer off the table.
kenparrish53
March 14, 2024 at 10:24 am
Packers got better? That remains to be seen