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The Packers decided not to put the franchise brand on the running back Aaron Jones, but several reports say they still want to hire him again. However, the offer they are making to him does not appear to be one that he would accept.
Jones received “more than $ 9 million a year” from the Packers, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The report did not say how much more than $ 9 million, but suffice it to say that the wording means that they are offering him less than $ 10 million a year.
Jones certainly wants to be paid closer to the category of best running backs. Christian McCaffrey earns $ 16 million a year, Ezekiel Elliott and Alvin Kamara earn $ 15 million a year, and Dalvin Cook, Derrick Henry and Joe Mixon are all in the range of $ 12 million to $ 13 million a year.
The Packers recognize that teams often regret giving the running backs a first-rate payout, and the Packers also passed a second-round pick on the running back AJ Dillon last season and see him as a viable replacement for Jones if Jones go somewhere else. Therefore, the Packers are not likely to pay Jones what he is looking for.
So while the Packers may want Jones to continue, the most likely scenario is that, when he takes action in a week, he quickly leaves for a team that will pay him more than the Packers.