The Green Bay Packers made a surprising decision during the off-season by parting ways with Aaron Jones. This move came after the Packers requested Jones to accept a substantial pay cut for the second consecutive year. Despite mutual interest in reaching a deal, the Packers remained firm on their offer.
Jones ultimately opted for a more lucrative contract with his former rival, the Minnesota Vikings. While it’s widely known that the general manager holds the authority over player transactions, the head coach often contributes to decision-making. Upon learning about the team’s decision to move on from Jones, LaFleur expressed his opinion.
The release of Aaron Jones prompted an unexpected response from Green Bay Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur.
“At the annual NFL league meetings in Orlando, Florida, on March 26, Matt LaFleur expressed his surprise, stating, ‘It kind of caught me off guard, to be honest with you.’ He elaborated that there were other factors at play regarding Aaron Jones, and he was not fully aware of how everything would unfold. The decision seemed to come suddenly on that Monday.”
“Jones and the Packers attempted to negotiate a solution internally. According to a report by Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, the team proposed a 50% salary reduction for Jones for the 2024 season, given his substantial cap hit of $17.57 million. Jones had previously accepted a pay cut of around $5 million approximately a year ago, aiming to help the Packers stay competitive and remain with the team through 2023. However, this time, Jones declined the offer, leading to changes in the running back lineup.”
Packers are set to proceed with Josh Jacobs moving forward.
Instead, they acquired Jacobs, a 26-year-old running back with three seasons of over 1,000 rushing yards.
LaFleur expressed enthusiasm about Jacobs joining the team, stating, “I’m not directly involved in those discussions, but we were extremely pleased to acquire Jacobs.”
The Packers have had a productive offseason, but further additions are necessary to enhance their Super Bowl prospects. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Green Bay holds the ninth-best odds to win the championship in 2024, at +2200.