The Green Bay Packers had been searching for a legitimate star running back for quite some time before Aaron Jones came along. Eddie Lacy showed signs of being that guy, but multiple issues kept him from being that guy for them long-term. Now, Jones is showing that he could very well end up being the team's long-term option in the backfield alongside Aaron Rodgers.
Last season, the Packers finally unleashed Jones on the NFL. Matt LaFleur came in as a first-year head coach and changed everything about Green Bay's offensive attack. While Jones still saw quite a few of his potential carries go to Jamaal Williams, he was the clear-cut starter and was an extremely dangerous weapon for the team.
Jones ended up carrying the football 236 times for 1,084 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also caught 49 passes for 474 yards and another three touchdowns, showing off his ability as a dual-threat running back.
Many have started comparing Jones' game to that of New Orleans Saints star Alvin Kamara. He is extremely elusive and shifty in the open field, can make defenders miss, and has the speed to break a big play from anywhere on the field. Unfortunately, Jones is entering the final season of his contract in 2020 and the Packers have some decisions to make.
In recent history, it has been very dangerous to pay a running back big money. Look at situations like Todd Gurley, who suffered health issues soon after signing his new monster contract. Green Bay has had discussions with Jones, but no one is exactly sure what to expect from the contract negotiations.
Should the Packers Go Ahead and Pay Aaron Jones?
To answer the question, the Packers shouldn't even hesitate to give Jones a big contract. There are plenty of reasons to support that statement.
First and foremost, Jones is just 25 years old and doesn't have a ton of wear and tear on his legs. Mike McCarthy didn't utilize Jones too much and LaFleur made a concerted effort to keep him fresh and healthy. Jones still has a ton of run left in him.
Another reason is the fact that the Packers can't afford to lose a star running back. Jones would join an extremely talented group of running backs hitting the 2021 free agency market, including Kamara, Leonard Fournette, Dalvin Cook, Derrick Henry, and Phillip Lindsay. Green Bay could target his replacement, but none of them are legitimate better options at this point in time.
The only case that could be made for an upgrade would be Kamara. He is a better receiving back than Jones and would form a lethal duo with Rodgers, but would also cost quite a bit more than the Packers would have to pay Jones.
Keeping Jones makes the most sense for Green Bay. They would make sure that they have a star in the backfield to take pressure off of Rodgers, or perhaps in the future Jordan Love. LaFleur also loves Jones' fit in his offense and it is clear that Jones has even more room to continue growing and improving over the next couple of seasons.
Green Bay also cannot afford to risk letting Jones hit the market. They could use the franchise tag on him, but that would be relatively pointless. It's time to go ahead and get their star running back locked up.
Brian Gutekunst has proven himself to be a very solid NFL general manager. He has made plenty of great decisions and there is no question that Jones' contract is a tough one as well. However, the Packers need to give Jones a pay raise and keep him around for years to come.
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