AJ Dillon Named a Potential Cut Candidate for Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers backfield is going to look different in 2024 than it has in years past. One of the players who will be fighting for a role in training camp is AJ Dillon.

A second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Boston College, AJ Dillon hasn’t panned out exactly how the team had hoped. There was some hope that he would be able to handle a lead-back role, but he has not proven capable of that to this point.

When Aaron Jones was out of the lineup last season, AJ Dillon failed to impress. That certainly played a part in the team signing Josh Jacobs this offseason, who will be taking over as the lead back.

Along with Jacobs, the Green Bay Packers also used a third-round pick on MarShawn Lloyd out of USC. It is pretty clear that the team was preparing for AJ Dillon to depart, as he was a free agent.

But, his market did not develop. As a result, the Green Bay Packers were able to bring him back on a seldom-used qualifying offer. AJ Dillon will make more than the minimum but only count for the minimum against the salary cap.

It was a shrewd move by the team, but one that doesn’t give the veteran running back much security when it comes to a roster spot. As a result, Packers beat writer Wendell Ferreira of A to Z Sports has named AJ Dillon as a potential surprise cut candidate this offseason.

“…If the Packers get early indications that Lloyd can be fairly impactful right away, it might get difficult to find a roster spot for Dillon,” Ferreria wrote.

At best, AJ Dillon looks like he can carve out a role as a power back; that isn’t Lloyd’s forte, as his game is predicated on speed and athleticism. But, the Boston College product will have to earn that spot.

Along with Lloyd, he will also be competing with Emanuel Wilson and Jarveon Howard in training camp. AJ Dillon isn’t earning enough money for the Green Bay Packers to not consider releasing him should a need at another position arise.

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