By not using their franchise tag on Aaron Jones, the Packers run the risk of losing their top running back next week in free agency. But the team has not given up on extending him prior to the start of the new league year, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
The Packers discussed the prospect of tagging Jones and continue to view him as part of their future, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link). Green Bay, which has not used the tag since 2010, is running out of time to salvage that future.
While the running back tag is not yet known, it could come in below even $9MM — thanks to the expected cap reduction — so it is somewhat surprising the Packers did not cuff Jones via the tag. Corey Linsley is expected to hit the market, so the team faces the real possibility of losing an All-Pro center and a Pro Bowl running back next week.
Jones’ negotiations with the Packers led to the running back changing agents. The 2020 talks produced an offer worth $12MM annually, but Green Bay’s proposal was light on guaranteed money. While 2017 running back draftees Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara, Dalvin Cook and Joe Mixon opted for security ahead of free agency, Jones should enter a live market if he reaches free agency. The Dolphins are one known suitor for the two-time 1,000-yard rusher. With Jones the unquestioned No. 1 running back in free agency, it would take a lot for the Packers to keep him off the market at this point.
What the hell are the Packers doing? This was the most obvious tag even if you negotiated a contract a week later.
Bc they’re letting him walk….all they’re doing is showing they “tried” to sign him but AJ wanted too much.
It’s Dillion’s show now….I wonder if they draft another RB…..
What are they doing? Trying to negotiate a contract without pissing off Jones. If they have already offered a contract of 12 million a year I would say the pack is serious about signing him. How did tagging work for Levon Bell?
Don’t compare Jones to Le’veon Bell. Jones has a brain in his head that isn’t 90% ego. Oh, and how did holding out a year work out for Le’veon, anyways? That prima donna went from being one of the top RB’s in the game to a backup within 2 years, and ended up with less money than he was offered by Pittsburgh in the first place. Just what he deserved for thinking he was bigger than the team, and the league for that matter
I agree keeping jones for around $8M is an absolute no brainer. Not a packer fan, but I always liked Aaron Rodgers and have always respected the organization. I can’t stand them anymore. The coach/GM combo is a disaster. The egos are too big. Drafting Love, kicking the FG, not tagging Jones. These are idiotic moves. Absolutely idiotic.
13-3 and a trip to the NFCCG two years in a row, and they’re a disaster? Would that my Vikings suffered such a disaster.
I am quickly learning to despise Brian Gutekunst. First he has the most questionable (horrible) draft in recent memory, then goes the entire offseason without adding any kind of help for his HOF QB or for the run defense, and now this inexplicable move of not tagging Jones. Thank god they have Aaron Rodgers, because Gutekunst is doing his best to turn the rest of this team into a disaster. Logic has no place in the GB front office!
One sure fire way to piss off aaron rodgers. Get rid of his center and running back. Lol packers won’t win a thing any time soon
I mean, they already have pissed him off big time. Drafting a QB in the first round and then an RB in the second when you have Jones already would/should piss anyone off. They needed defense or a WR; they drafted two positions they were already set at.
Its ok to pay a running back big for one year.. Terrible non tag by GB.
Absolutely foolish move. Just plain stupid. But hey it looks like we’re going to keep Preston Smith! I just don’t understand what this GM could possibly be thinking
This guy is a key reason they went 13-3. With the Cap sure to skyrocket with the new TV deal they should just renegotiate a couple of people in order to fit him in.
It’ll be ok. He will sign with Miami and we won’t hear about him again.
Packers needs, WR, ILB/OLB, CB, RB(pass catching), C.
Packers are on the clock :
Selection TE
As a Packers fan, I am to the point where I would like to see Aaron Rodgers give the GB franchise a middle finger and go out and find a stacked team that is missing a QB like Brady did. GB has wasted his career.
During his time with the Packers the FO has supported Aaron the Ego with pro bowlers like David Bakhtiari, Davante Adams, John Kuhn, Donald Driver, Josh Sitton and Jordy Nelson so it’s absurd to say the organization wasted his career.
He’s had 7 or 8 All-Pro players in his career and one was a FB. To put that in perspective Brady has had 29 (over half on defense) and Mahomes has had 7. Rodgers has had as many Top 10 defenses and Brady has not had a Top 10 defense.