In the next two weeks, Acme Packing Company reviews each group of positions in the Green Bay Packers and provides notes and information on how they fared in the 2020 season. We will also look at the players in each unit who will be free agents in 2021. Today, we look at running backs.
We hope everyone enjoyed the racing room that the Green Bay Packers had in 2020, because it probably won’t be the same in 2021.
Big decisions are approaching Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst in position, with Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams ready to hit the free agent market in March. With an ever-decreasing salary cap, probably close to the $ 180 million mark, Green Bay will have to make some tough choices for the job.
This is not to say that Gutekunst and Packers captain guru Russ Ball is unable to perform incredible financial gymnastics and somehow find a way to keep the two running backs in Green Bay. It will almost certainly mean that one player will at least sign an agreement which is below and maybe even good below market value.
Let’s take a look at each pending free agent running and see what the future holds for them.
Aaron Jones
NFL Experience: Four years
FA Status: Unrestricted free agent
Contract expiring: 4 year newbie contract; $ 2,601 million in total
2020 Statistics: 201 runs, 1,104 run yards, nine touchdowns. 47 receptions, 355 receiving yards, two touchdown receptions
Jones is the main Packers player to reach the free agency this year. He has been a critical part of the attack since the arrival of coach Matt LaFleur in 2019 and has become one of the elite NFL running backs, running for over 1,000 yards in the past two seasons.
For his part, Jones spoke in the past about wanting to stay in Green Bay and Gutekunst expressed that the feeling is mutual. After dismissing the pleasantries and seeing that Jones already rejected an offer from the Packers after switching agents, the reality of the situation becomes more obscure, especially with AJ Dillon waiting behind the scenes.
When Carolina Panthers’ running back, Christian McCaffrey, signed a four-year, $ 64 million contract extension last spring, it opened up the market for Jones. Given the average lifespan of running backs and the danger of signing them on a second big contract, it’s difficult to see Jones running an agreement similar to the one McCaffrey signed, especially with an ever-lower salary cap.
As much as fans want Jones back and no matter how good it is, it’s hard to see him back in Green Bay, unless he gets a considerable discount in his hometown. With looming extensions for Davante Adams and Jaire Alexander, among others, it just doesn’t make much sense to save a lot of money on a running back due to its lifespan.
Jamaal Williams
NFL Experience: Four years
FA status: Unrestricted free agent
Contract expiring: 4 years, $ 2.966 million in total
2020 Statistics: 119 runs, 505 run yards, two run touchdowns. 31 receptions, 236 yards, a touchdown reception
When the Packers wrote Dillon, many took it as a sign that Jones was practically lost when the free agency came into being. While this seems like a possibility, Dillon’s choice was not to potentially replace Jones.
It was to replace Williams, at least it seemed at the time.
After a decent, if not a little disheartening, season at Williams, it’s a little harder to see a team offering the backup executing a massive contract when you consider lowering the salary cap. The teams will not be able to go financially this spring, which gives Williams a much better chance of returning to Green Bay than Jones.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see Williams and Dillon (maybe reverse the names) as the main running backs for next season. Dillon showed enough when he finally got off the COVID-19 list that he belongs to the Packers plan and bringing Williams back would give Green Bay a lot of power in the backfield.
Tyler Ervin
NFL experience: Five years
FA Status: Unrestricted free agent
Expiring contract: 1 year, $ 1,048 million
2020 Statistics: 13 loads, 67 running yards. 11 receptions 84 receiving yards. 196 kickoff yards (10 kickoffs), 20 punchback yards (four punts)
Ervin rescued the game back from the Packers in 2019 and showed enough to become an interesting gadget player in the offense.
As the man of the primary movement in 2020, he gave LaFleur several options for showing different pre-snap defense looks. Furthermore, he really was more of a special team contributor and his return could give new coordinator Maurice Drayton some continuity in the position, despite Ervin having lost the last month of the season on the reserve due to injuries.
If he is indeed brought back, expect Ervin not to receive much more than a minimal agreement and that he probably will not sign until after the draft, as Gutekunst might as well find a replacement in the middle to final rounds.