The Green Bay Packers are reportedly re-signing running back AJ Dillon. However, this news doesn’t change how the Packers should approach the running back position in the draft.
Dillon signed a four-year qualifying contract. In short, this is a one-year deal that Dillon is eligible for because he spent each of the last four seasons in Green Bay.
This is an extremely low risk move by the Packers. Dillon’s contract can be worth up to $1.45 million more than the league minimum for a fourth-year player, which is $1.125 million, totaling a potential $2.57 million for Dillon. However, salary cap-wise, Dillon will only account for $1.125 million against the cap.
Dillon also earned a signing bonus of $167,000. This is the only portion of the contract that the Packers would be on the hook for if they were to release him.
“AJ’s been a great member of our team,” said Matt LaFleur at his season-ending press conference. “You’ve got to have multiple backs in this league. You have to. It’s just the pounding these guys take. I think you could really see his value every year towards the end of the season. Shoot, I’d love to have him back here.”
With there being really no financial commitment on the Packers’ end, Dillon re-signing doesn’t guarantee him a roster spot. If Dillon earns a roster spot, then the Packers have a key contributor on league minimum deal from a cap hit perspective. On the flip side, if the Packers move on from him over the summer, they suffer no significant salary cap impact for doing so.
It’s for this reason that the Packers approach to the running back position in the draft should not change. It should still very much be on their radar.
This isn’t an overly deep running back class, but with the Packers having four draft picks on Day 2, it does give them the flexibility to address the need with one of the top prospects in this year’s class.
What we know is that Josh Jacobs will be the lead back, but who the second running back option is and who rounds out the roster as the third running back will be up for grabs during training camp and the preseason.
Presumably, it will be Dillon, Emanuel Wilson, and a rookie competing for those two roster spots and playing time.
Dillon brings experience to the table and of the group, including Jacobs, is the best pass-blocker, an element that we know is important in the Matt LaFleur offense. For what it’s worth, Brian Gutekunst mentioned at the NFL Combine that they preferred to…
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