The restrictions placed in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have offered up its own set of challenges for rookies getting accustomed to life in the NFL. Fortunately, the Green Bay Packers were able to take care of business with running back AJ Dillon.
Dillon took to Twitter to announce that he has signed his rookie deal with the Packers:
It’s official! Finally a part of the @packers! A dream come true, can’t wait to get started. Shoutout to everyone who’s helped me along the way! ✊🏾 pic.twitter.com/u5vxIffznA
— AJ Dillon (@ajdillon7) July 1, 2020
The Packers made headlines with their decision to trade up and take Aaron Rodgers' future successor under center in Jordan Love with their first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. However, they also ushered in some more competition in the backfield by using their second-round pick on Dillon.
Aaron Jones is coming off a breakout year that saw him rush for 1,084 yards and 16 touchdowns while tacking on 49 receptions for 474 yards and receiving touchdowns. He had finally taken that next step in emerging into a bonafide workhorse for this new offense in Green Bay by helping take the pressure off of Rodgers with a more balanced approach during the 2019 campaign.
Regardless, the Packers still opted to take Dillon in an effort to shore up a surplus o talent in the backfield. Although there is plenty of speculation regarding how Rodgers feels about Love being town, Jones has made it clear that he has no problem with competing against a rookie.
The ongoing pandemic has caused prolonged negotiations for rookies throughout the league. Dillon can now focus on etching out an integral role for himself once training camp rolls around at the end of the month.
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