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Aaron Jones vs. the Vikings; now, he's with the Vikings.

After ‘Tough’ Decision on Aaron Jones, What’s Next for Packers?

Green Bay Packers GM Brian Gutekunst discussed the release of Aaron Jones on Monday at the NFL annual meeting. After signing Josh Jacobs, what is next at running back?

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst called the decision to release star running back Aaron Jones “really tough” but in the best interests of the team.

“Obviously, the business of football never stops,” Gutekunst told reporters at the NFL annual meeting in Orlando, Fla., on Monday. “Any player that’s committed the way he has to our football team, the way that he is in our locker room, obviously very productive player, it’s always tough. But, over time, you get used to it. It’s the business of football. We wish him well. He couldn’t have represented us any better in his time with us.”

Jones’ red-hot streak to end the season helped propel the team into the divisional round of the playoffs. After the season, Gutekunst said it was the “anticipation” that “the heartbeat of our team” would return.

However, the Packers and Jones could not reach middle ground on a revamped contract. Jones was due to an $11.1 million base salary in 2024; the Packers wanted to cut substantially into that figure.

“As we went through that process, we kind of realized it wasn’t probably going to come to fruition,” Gutekunst said. “We had to do what was in the best interest of the football team.”

So, Gutekunst pivoted from the 29-year-old Jones, who ranks among the NFL’s all-time leaders in yards per carry, to the 26-year-old Josh Jacobs, the 2022 All-Pro and rushing champion.

The Packers later re-signed AJ Dillon to a one-year contract. With Jacobs, Dillon and Emanuel Wilson back from last year, the team probably will draft a back in next month’s draft.

Given that Jacobs, Dillon and Wilson are power runners, Gutekunst could opt to go the other direction with a change-of-pace back.

Along with their pick at No. 25 overall, Gutekunst is in a strong position to add a top running back if that’s his goal. Perhaps even the top back in the draft. At FanDuel Sportsbook, here are the odds to be the first back off the board, with there being an enormous split after the top five:

Trey Benson, Florida State: +260. 6-foot 1/4, 216 pounds. 4.39 40. 9.70 Relative Athletic Score. Of 47 FBS-level running backs in the draft class with at least 100 rushing attempts in 2023, Benson was 14th with 5.8 yards per carry and 21st with 3.53 yards after contact. By catching 20-of-24 passes, he ranked seventh with 1.46 yards per route.  

Jaylen Wright, Tennessee: +280. 5-10 1/2, 210 pounds. 4.38 40. 9.80 RAS. Wright was No. 1 with a 7.4-yard average and second with 4.35 yards after contact. By catching 22-of-25 passes, he ranked 10th with 1.32 yards per route.  

Jonathon Brooks, Tennessee: +280. 6-0 3/8, 216 pounds. No workouts (knee). Brooks was 10th with a 6.1-yard average and ninth with 3.91 yards after contact. By catching 25-of-29 passes, he ranked sixth with 1.50 yards per route.  

Marshawn Lloyd, USC: +500. 5-8 3/4, 220 pounds. 4.46 40. 8.58 RAS. Lloyd was second with a 7.1-yard average and eighth with 3.97 yards after contact. By catching 13-of-18 passes, he ranked 15th with 1.22 yards per route.  

Blake Corum, Michigan: +550. 5-7 3/4, 205 pounds. 4.53 40. 8.24 RAS. Corum was 35th with a 4.8-yard average and 44th with 2.42 yards after contact. By catching 16-of-18 passes, he ranked 26th with 0.87 yards per route.  

Braelon Allen, Wisconsin: +1900. 6-1 1/4, 235 pounds. No 40, no RAS. Allen was 22nd with a 5.4-yard average but 12th with 3.77 yards after contact. By catching 28-of-30 passes, he ranked 32nd with 0.73 yards per route.  

The over/under for Jacobs at FanDuel is 1,000.5 rushing yards.

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