The Green Bay Packers are focused on the 2023 season, but some people already have an eye toward the 2024 offseason. It could be a busy one for the Packers, who have a few key players that will be hitting free agency.
Most of that attention has been on star pass rusher Rashan Gary. Playing out the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, Gary is eligible for an extension and by all accounts, he is going to cash in on a large contract.
The ACL tear that Gary suffered in Week 9 last season has done nothing to diminish his impact on the field. While his snap count is down as he continues working his way back, he picked up right where he left off as a dominating presence on the field.
While his contract status is certainly worth keeping an eye on, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky selected another player’s contract situation as one to keep an eye on. In this week’s NFL Power Rankings, Demovsky highlighted running back AJ Dillon as the contract situation to keep an eye on.
“Dillon is in the final season of his rookie contract and is playing for his future this season — whether it’s in Green Bay or elsewhere — but it’s not off to the greatest start. He had a chance to make a statement last Sunday with Aaron Jones out, and Dillon managed just 3.7 yards per carry. He could have changed the game with 1 yard, but he was stuffed on a third-and-1 run in the fourth quarter.”
The Packers selected Dillon in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Boston College with hopes. They knew there was work to be done, but the franchise believed that he would eventually take over the backfield.
Alas, that hasn’t occurred. He remains the 1B to Aaron Jones, who is the much more explosive running back. Dillon hasn’t developed as much as the Packers had hoped in the passing game, leaving him a bit of a one-dimensional, plodding running back.
When presented with opportunities to be the lead back, Dillon has fallen short. The season is young and there is time for him to get things on track, but his leash will be short. The Packers have been connected in rumors to Indianapolis Colts star running back Jonathan Taylor and Dillon’s lack of performance is as big of a reason as any.
