Aaron Jones Released by Packers Amid Josh Jacobs Contract Rumors in NFL Free Agency

Monday has been a wild day at the running back position.

The Green Bay Packers have been at the center of it all. After reportedly agreeing to a contract with free-agent running back Josh Jacobs, the team released veteran Aaron Jones.

ESPN's Adam Schefter first reported the news.

With A.J. Dillon also hitting free agency, Green Bay's running back room is going to have a completely new look during the 2024 season.

Jones, 29, would have been due $12 million in 2024 without a restructured deal. Given that Jacobs likely is signing for a big number, at least relative to the running back position, it makes sense that the Packers wanted to reduce Jones' cap hit.

When healthy, he was excellent in Green Bay. He rushed for over 1,000 yards three times in his seven-year career, led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 2019 (16) and was a solid weapon out of the backfield in the passing game (18 career receiving touchdowns).

But he missed six games in the 2023 season, and at this point in their respective careers, Jacobs is an upgrade.

The team's run to a postseason berth and upset win over the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card Round wouldn't have happened without Jones, however—in the final three weeks of the regular season he rushed for 358 yards, all Packers wins, and added 226 rushing yards and three scores in two postseason games.

There's no doubt that his loss will be felt in Green Bay.

Still, Jacobs gives the Packers a dynamic, between-the-tackles option who led the NFL in rushing yards in 2022 (1,653) and has never finished with fewer than 800 rushing yards in a season. He has as many 1,000-yard seasons (three) in five NFL seasons as Jones managed in his seven years.

In that regard, it's easy enough to see why the Packers decided to roll with a feature back in Jacobs over the tandem of Jones and Dillon, the latter of whom never lived up to expectations in Green Bay.

Don't expect Jones to be on the market for long, however. He joins a group of remaining free agents at the position that includes Derrick Henry and Austin Ekeler, among others, after Saquon Barkley reportedly signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, D'Andre Swift reportedly signed with the Chicago Bears and Tony Pollard reportedly joined the Tennessee Titans.

It's been a busy day in Green Bay, as the team also released veteran tackle David Bakhtiari. Moving on from him and Jones freed up around $24 million in cap space, per Spotrac, giving the team room to improve other positions and surround star quarterback Jordan Love with a talented roster.

But the loss of two longtime Packers will undoubtedly take an emotional toll on fans and in Green Bay's locker room. The NFL is rarely a sentimental business.