Most of the top available running backs have quickly found a new home this offseason. The 2024 free agent class featured several prominent names, and they have switched teams (in certain cases, remaining in the division while doing so). AJ Dillon is among the best remaining backfield options, and he appears to have a shortlist of destinations. 
The former Packers back has interest in a deal with the Cowboys, Giants and Colts, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Dallas could indeed be a suitor for Dillon (although nothing is imminent at this time), colleague Jane Slater adds. Slater also notes a Cowboys reunion with Ezekiel Elliott is not in the team’s plans as things currently stand.
Dallas saw Tony Pollard take a deal with the Titans in the early portion of the negotiating window, a departure which did come as a major surprise. Pollard took on undisputed lead back duties with Elliott out of the picture last year, and his efficiency saw a notable decline. Still, eyebrows have been raised at the lack of action on the veteran market with respect to RBs for the Cowboys. The team’s second-leading rusher in 2023 was Rico Dowdle, who is unsigned.
The Giants also lost a 2023 franchise tag recipient in the form of Saquon Barkley. He made an intra-NFC East swap by joining the Eagles on a three-year deal, after the Giants did not submit a new offer this offseason. New York has, however, responded by bringing in Devin Singletary. The latter landed a three-year, $19.5MM pact to serve as the Giants’ lead back, so any Dillion arrangement would see him play as a backup or part of a tandem as he did in Green Bay with Aaron Jones.
Indianapolis appeared destined to trade Jonathan Taylor for much of the 2023 offseason, but he and the Colts ultimately worked out an extension. The 2021 rushing champion will be tasked with carrying the load next season and beyond, so like the Giants the Colts have less of a need in the backfield than the Cowboys. With Anthony Richardson at quarterback after a four-game rookie season, though, Indianapolis will no doubt prioritize a strong ground game.
Dillon played sparingly as a rookie in 2020, but since then he has seen a consistent workload serving as a change-of-pace compared to Jones. The 25-year-old totaled 1,573 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground between the 2021 and ’22 seasons, but he regressed last season. Dillion saw his yards per carry average drop to a career-low 3.4 in 2023, something which has no doubt hurt his market. If at least one of the three teams on his radar reciprocates his interest, though, a deal could be worked out somewhat quickly.
That’s AJ Dillon, not to be confused with James J. Dillon from Superstation wrestling in the 1980s.
Poor JJ. He could never figure out who Sting wanted to fight
That’s why they kicked him out of the Horsemen
AJ Dillon what a wasted 2nd round pick.
Bruh shut up. Look up and down packers roster they are the best draft and develop team in the league. Wah wah wah they got 2 productive seasons out of a 2nd round pick and parted ways. 27 gms in the league would wish for that to be their failure
Dillon only started 11 out of 60 games with the Packers and his rush averaged dipped each year. That is not what you look for when drafting a RB in round 2.
Starting is such a useless stat, when he was drafted as a change of pace back. Clearly he underperformed and wasnt given the 5th year option. But he was a good piece for year 2 and 3. Two years of production is hardly missing on a second rounder. Theres top 5 picks that bust sooner.
Spending a 2nd round pick on a guy who literally was the 3rd string back his first year when the Packers were 1 game away from making a superbowl but still had needs elsewhere was a wasted pick.
Not only that when he started or came in off the bench he was average at best. The guy ran people over in college because he went to a non football school and was as big as a house.
He comes to the big show and demonstrated zero technique and tried to run over guys and it didn’t work.
He is a great person, but was an awful fit for the Packers both in timing and in ability.
Again a terrible take. Cry about it all you want. The packers are a draft and develop team. They systematically dont ask for top picks to impact right away. They had what 5-7 losing seasons in the last 23? But sure dude from his moms basement says its a waste of a pick. Love, wyatt, gary, aaron jones, kenny clark, elton jenkins all examples of players the packers did not rush to play.
Dillion averaged over 4 yards a carry in 2021 and 2022 without alot of explosive plays. Meaning he was really picking up 4 yards a rush, it wasnt bouyed by some 60 yard rush that happened once. Thats exactly what he was brought in to do. They ran pony package with dillion and jones to give jones space on the inside and passing lanes.
You are like captain casual.
Yeah sure, you can side step the actual discussion by trying to insult me. Four insults in 1 reply and you still haven’t explained why Dillon was a valid pick at that juncture.
Let’s move forward with facts only.
He was drafted 2nd round and ended up being the 3rd string back his first year, and backup the next 3. The team that drafted him did not have a need at RB in 2020. The RB market has been easy to replace every year for quite some time now.
You reference draft and develop for guys to wait and play but that isn’t really germane to the conversation. If they drafted him to be a Jones successor then why did they bring in Jacobs and not just bring back Dillon?
In the playoffs Dillon was even less productive yielding 69 yards rushing and 82 yards from scrimmage in 3 games and 1 score.
A non fact: I am saying Dillon at round 2 when the Packers had a starter and backup on the books for that year was not good value and that even when he was the 2nd RB he did not offer enough value. Most SB winning teams over the last 5 years didn’t have any sort of focus on RB depth.
They didnt draft him to be jones successor, they drafted him to be jones change of pace. He was always meant to be a backup. Being a backup isnt an insult. I like how you ignore the very acceptable production in 2021 and 2022 as a backup. 4 yards per carry without a carry over 40 yards was exactly his role and above average production as a short yardage back.
But the truth is, he isnt a good pass blocker, he isnt a good receiver, he isnt fast enough to play special teams and his one skill showed regression. So now hes gone.
You cant compare how other teams draft to packers, they dont take the same approach and theyve been wildly successful. They traded up for jordan love in the first round, when they needed patrick queen, knowing love would sit for 2-3 years.
The draft is not an avenue they use for immediate impact in the majority of cases. Zach tom and rashaad walker redshirt rookie years and starting tackles for 75% of sophomore season including every snap in the playoffs.
Jaire, savage, stokes, cwatson, reed, musgrove are outliers. Those plug and play, players dont always work either. There is no exact science to a draft and the packers have been one of the most successful franchises for the last 2-3 decades. So sorry your criticism is met with jokes, its just your opinion is a joke so i am matching it.
Also dillion was 62 overall. Impact players in the last 2 picks of the second round and the entirity of the third round were
Willie gay
Antonio gibson
Zack moss
Julian blackmon
Alex highsmith
Like were is the miss? None of those players are on their orginal team
I think the Pack could have used draft capital to move up and get a real #2 to go opposite of Adams. But they didn’t year after year.
Perhaps depth at any other position would have helped the team, who knows. I simply do not believe that drafting Dillon, same with Deguara, and Love (even though Love might work out very well) were great moves considering where the team was. All 3 of those picks were 3rd string that year.
And yet, they went 13-3 won a bye and aaron won mvp.
They lost vs the 9ers in a game choked away by rodgers and special teams. With the final play being rodgers getting picked throwing to tae in double coverage on 4th down, when their #2 wr lazard could have laid down a picnic blanket and ate lunch at the first down marker, because the niners literally didnt guard him.
So how does the season end differently?
Degura was the first investment the packers made towards MLF offense. Te/fb combo plays a big role in his play action rone zone. Degura was a complete bust.
I can rattle off 20 busts at premier positions selected in 2020 in the first three rounds. Picking them would have changed nothing.
They went 13-3 in spite of Dillon. He had almost zero real impact.
But he’s back on the team now so it’s moot.