Analyst Believes Packers Will Regret Running Back Moves

The Green Bay Packers made several big additions during the 2024 NFL offseason. The biggest on the offensive side of the ball came in the backfield. Long-time running back Aaron Jones was released after the team signed Josh Jacobs away from the Las Vegas Raiders.

What was reported as a four-year, $48 million deal is essentially a one-year, $13 million contract between the Packers and Jacobs. There are void years at the end which will lock him in for an affordable price should he play well, as the deal is beneficial for Green Bay.

One of the reasons that some see this as a good move for the Packers is that Jacobs is younger than Jones. Running backs wear down and Jones was approaching that part of his career. He also dealt with some injuries during the 2023 season.

Alas, when healthy, such as the postseason against the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers, Jones proved he is still a productive dual-threat. In the opinion of Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report, that is one of the reasons the Packers are going to regret moving on from Jones to sign Jacobs.

“Last year, Jacobs averaged just 3.5 yards per carry. He isn’t a clear upgrade over a healthy Jones, and after being heavily overworked over the past two years (663 touches), there’s no guarantee that Jacobs will regain the Pro Bowl form he showed in 2022.

If Jacobs stumbles at all this season, Green Bay will regret letting one of its top leaders leave for a division rival,” wrote Knox.

It stung a lot having to move on from another long-time Packers star this offseason. But, fans have to hurt even more after Jones signed with the Minnesota Vikings. Seeing him in purple after so many years in green and gold will hurt.

Green Bay took a risk moving on from Jones, but Jacobs isn’t the only new face. The team will be relying on MarShawn Lloyd to bring some explosiveness to the passing game, helping replace what they lost with Jones.

If Jacobs is unable to regain his form from 2022, at least the Packers aren’t in the hole for long-term money. This will be a year-to-year relationship as the contract structure protects Green Bay should his production underwhelm.

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