Packers, Aaron Jones Agree To Restructure

The four-year, $48MM contract Aaron Jones agreed to in 2021 pointed to a 2023 restructure, and the Packers indeed showed interest in keeping their veteran running back in the fold. They completed that restructure Friday morning to avoid a separation.

Jones took a $5MM cut in salary in exchange for an $8.52MM signing bonus, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The talented back’s $20MM cap number will be reduced — as GM Brian Gutekunst hinted it would be last month — and the sides will stay together for a seventh season.

In addition to ensuring Jones stays in Green Bay for his age-29 season, this agreement will end with the UTEP product earning $11MM in salary in 2023. Jones’ previous cap hit was set to lead all running backs in 2023 by nearly $4MM, making it a seemingly untenable number for the Packers, who will keep their Jones-AJ Dillon tandem intact for a fourth season. Jones confirmed the news (via Twitter). Dillon’s rookie contract expires after the 2023 season.

This marks the second straight offseason the Packers have restructured Jones’ deal. The team tacked on two void years to the starter’s deal to create 2022 cap space. The contract still runs through 2024.

Due to this bonus conversion, Jones’ 2021-23 earnings ($31MM) as of now trail only Christian McCaffrey among running backs, Schefter adds (on Twitter). This comes despite Jones receiving only $13MM guaranteed at signing — 11th at the position. The $8.52MM signing bonus will replace the $7MM roster bonus that was due next month, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com adds. In doing so, the Packers reduced Jones’ cap hit.

The Packers let Jamaal Williams walk in 2021, leading to a Lions accord, and prioritized Jones. This has continued a fruitful partnership between the NFC North franchise and a former fifth-round pick. Jones led the NFL in touchdowns in 2019, with 19, and made the Pro Bowl in 2020. Despite the Packers’ offensive regression this past season, Jones totaled 1,516 yards from scrimmage — the second-most of his career.

A Packers team that had not enjoyed too much continuity at running back over the past decade and change has seen Jones provide it. Jones’ seventh Packers season will match Ahman Green‘s tenure (2000-06). If Jones can match his 17 starts from 2022, he would tie Green for 91 during his career. Green is the only modern-era Packers back to outflank Jones for starts presently. The latter could pass Paul Hornung in franchise history this season as well; Jim Taylor‘s 104 lead all Packers ball-carriers.

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