Heading into the 2023 season, the Green Bay Packers know one thing for sure about their offense; the backfield is going to be leaned on heavily. The duo of Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon is the best running back tandem in the NFL and they will have plenty of opportunities to showcase that.
With the Packers turning to Jordan Love as the starting quarterback, it would be smart for Matt LaFleur and his coaching staff to lean on the veteran backfield early and often. However, for the long-term health of the franchise, could they look to break up the Jones-Dillon backfield?
Jones is in the middle of a lucrative contract extension which he agreed to restructure this offseason to remain with the team, taking a pay cut. If the Packers do not want to also pay Dillon this offseason, as he enters the final year of his rookie contract, a trade could be a route the franchise takes.
Andy Herman of the Pack-A-Day podcast suggested Dillon as a potential trade candidate this season. If the Packers aren’t going to keep him long-term, flipping him for some assets, presumably draft capital, would make some sense.
“I think it would take an injury to another team’s starting running back,” Herman said. “They look at AJ Dillon’s tape and say, ‘Hey, when this guy actually gets to be the guy, he’s been pretty darn good.’ It’s when he has to be the secondary guy and just get a handful of snaps here and there and doesn’t get into a rhythm, that’s where he’s maybe not quite as good.” (H/T Lombardi Ave)
There are a few factors that could lead to a decision to trade Dillon. If the Packers like what they see from backup running back Tyler Goodson, they could look to trade Dillon as Goodson will cost a fraction of the price as Dillon enters free agency.
In years past, this wouldn’t be something that the Packers ever considered. As long as Aaron Rodgers was under center, the team would be considered contenders. But, with him no longer on the roster, the team has to adjust its approach when it comes to roster building.
If a team in need of running back help offers a mid or late-round pick in exchange for Dillon, it is something the Packers have to think long and hard about. Paying two running backs extensions would be a risky way to build a roster as that would be a lot of money tied up in a position that has seen its value decrease in recent years.