Green Bay Packers select AJ Dillon in 2020 NFL Draft: Grading the pick
By Joe Kipp
The Green Bay Packers selected Boston College running back A.J. Dillon at pick No. 62 in the 2020 NFL Draft. Grading the pick for the Pack.
With the 62nd overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers selected Boston College running back A.J. Dillon, who figures to bring a solid presence as a short-yardage runner in coach Matt LaFleur’s offense.
The Packers drafted Utah State quarterback Jordan Love 26th overall in the first round on Thursday night, trading a fourth-rounder (No. 136) in the process. Because of that, Green Bay’s second- and third-round picks became much more important.
General manager Brian Gutekunst secured insurance for the future by selecting Dillon in the second round. Current starting running back Aaron Jones — who led the NFL in touchdowns (19) in 2019 – is an unrestricted free agent after the 2020 season. Additionally, backup runner Jamaal Williams will be an unrestricted free agent, too.
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Green Bay has already expressed its desire to re-sign Jones to a contract extension, but the selection of Dillon makes his future a bit murkier. That said, coach LaFleur stated earlier this offseaosn the team would ideally like to add a third running back into the rotation, so this selection shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise.
During his time at Boston College, Dillon racked up 845 carries for 4,382 yards and 38 touchdowns while averaging 5.3 yards per carry.
A big, bruising runner (6-0, 247 pounds), Dillon jumped an incredible 41 inches in the vertical leap at the NFL Combine. He compares most favorably to Titans running back Derrick Henry.
LaFleur was the offensive coordinator for a season in Tennessee in 2018, so it could be that he saw similar traits in Dillon that he saw in Henry. Drafting Dillon also gives Green Bay the ability to keep Jones fresh later in games.
Pick Analysis. Boston College. A.J. Dillon. D+. player. Scouting Report. 826. RB
While it’s understandable why the Packers selected a running back, doing so in the second round, when there’s many other pressing needs, gets a poor grade. Dillon could go on to have an excellent career, but because of where he was drafted and the fact the Packers have a dire need for a receiver, this gets a D+.