Green Bay Packers: 3 Bold predictions for 2021 NFL free agency
By Joe Kipp
1. Green Bay Packers agree to new long-term contract with Aaron Jones
The Packers elected not to use the franchise tag on Aaron Jones, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be back with the team in 2021. Jones is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday, but the Packers are still keen on re-signing their star running back.
One has to wonder how the Packers offense would look without Jones. Over the last two seasons, he has 3,017 scrimmage yards and 30 total touchdowns. Jones finally made his first Pro Bowl in 2020 after rushing for over 1,100 yards.
Jones’ stats speak for themselves, and his importance to Green Bay’s offensive scheme cannot be understated. In two years under coach Matt LaFleur, Jones has emerged into one of the NFL’s most dynamic weapons out of the backfield. He’ll be highly sought after in free agency, which means his price tag won’t be cheap. But that doesn’t mean Green Bay won’t be able to afford him.
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Sure, paying running backs has shown to be extremely risky, but Jones is more than a running back. A three-year deal makes a ton of sense for both Jones and the Packers, so long as the guarantees are right for Jones and the first-year cap hit is low for the team. By the end of a new three-year deal, Jones would be 29 years old and likely nearing the end of his prime.