Positive update: The Green Bay Packers are still moving forward with a special transaction. I’m happy to hear this.
Green Bay didn’t take long to utilize that cap space. By acquiring safety Xavier McKinney from the New York Giants, the Packers significantly strengthened their secondary. After reaching an agreement on a four-year, $68 million contract, McKinney became one of the NFL’s highest-paid safeties.
The greatest splash on the attacking side of the ball happened at running back. Josh Jacobs, formerly of the Las Vegas Raiders, agreed to a four-year, $48 million contract from the Packers to become their new lead back.
The Packers bid farewell to running back Aaron Jones, another seasoned performer, in order to make that move feasible. The fact that the team had to let go of Jones and pay Jacobs the money contributed to ESPN fantasy football analyst Stephania Bell’s statement that the signing of Jacobs was the most puzzling offseason move.
It’s true that Aaron Jones had a poor season the previous one. His availability was hampered by a hamstring injury he sustained in Week 1 and carried into the season. However, the team’s mantra was that Jones was the cornerstone to its run game, an essential member of the locker room, and the team’s heart. The claim made against Jones is that, as an elderly running back, a new contract would have been too expensive. However, the Packers added a back to their roster on a more costly multiyear contract (four years, $48 million) who has played in the league for fewer years but has gained experience more quickly. This is about the reasoning, not about Jacobs’ obvious brilliance, Bell stated.
They will see Jones twice in the 2024 season, which will only exacerbate the situation. He inked a one-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings, the rival team. Green Bay might soon find that releasing him was a mistake.
Jacobs’ contract isn’t your typical four-year, $48 million agreement, like many other NFL contracts. The Packers will have the option to back out of the agreement if they so want, but there was a risk involved. Overall, Green Bay will have to pay more in 2024 to fill the running back position than if they had simply retained Jones and found a less expensive replacement for Jacobs.
