Green Bay Packers: Ty Montgomery trade opens door for Aaron Jones

The Green Bay Packers have traded Ty Montgomery to the Baltimore Ravens for a seventh-round pick. The move opens up more opportunity for Aaron Jones.

The 2018 NFL Trade Deadline has been madness compared to recent years. According to multiple reports, the Green Bay Packers have traded away running back Ty Montgomery to the Baltimore Ravens for a 2020 seventh-round pick, just moments before the deadline.

The move comes just two days after Montgomery fumbled on a kickoff return before the two-minute warning against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Montgomery was reportedly instructed to take a knee in the endzone for a touchback.

Instead, he brought the ball out and cost the Packers an opportunity to drive down the field for the game-winning field goal. According to Mike Silver on NFL.com, an anonymous Packers player said Montgomery threw a temper tantrum on the sideline after being yanked out of the game. Green Bay lost 29-27.

"“They took him out (the previous drive) for a play and he slammed his helmet and threw a fit,” one Packers player said. “Then (before the kickoff) they told him to take a knee, and he ran it out anyway. You know what that was? That was him saying, ‘I’m gonna do me.’ It’s a f—— joke.“I mean, what the f— are you doing? We’ve got Aaron Rodgers, the best I’ve ever seen, and you’re gonna take that risk? I mean, it’s ’12’! All you gotta do is give him the ball, and you know what’s gonna happen.”"

In addition to the botched fumble, Montgomery only saw six snaps on Sunday, which was obviously a part of his frustration. Being traded for a mere seventh-round pick, in 2020 no less, is a clear sign that both Green Bay and Montgomery were okay parting ways. He’ll join a Ravens squad looking for running back depth behind Alex Collins.

The move opens up more opportunity for rising star Aaron Jones, who saw 12 carries for 86 yards and a score on Sunday against the Rams. So far this season, Jones has racked up 274 yards and two touchdowns on 44 carries, all the while missing the first two games due to suspension. Better yet, Jones is leading the NFL in yards per carry at 6.2 yards per tote.

Jones brings a different dynamic than both Jamaal Williams and Montgomery — a unique running style that constantly allows him to bounce off would-be tacklers and shoot through gaps untouched. For whatever reason, head coach Mike McCarthy has failed to see that.

It’s been clear to many fans that Jones has been the better running back, especially after having watched him cease carries to less talented players. Williams has managed just 3.7 yards per carry on 63 attempts this season, while Montgomery hasn’t been much better at 4.0 yards per attempt.

Aaron Jones is primed for a breakout campaign after Montgomery’s departure. We saw a preview of what that could look like on Sunday against the Rams with Montgomery only seeing six snaps, which all but helped seal the decision to trade him away.