5 Packers players who could follow Aaron Rodgers out the door

Trading or cutting Aaron Jones could help the Packers in a rebuild

Unlike a lot of other running backs who are able to ink a big second contract in the NFL, the production and effectiveness of Aaron Jones hasn’t dropped off. Despite having only 213 carries on the season, he still rushed for 1,121 yards to go along with 59 receptions for 395 yards, though he did only total seven touchdowns overall.

Still, it’s clear that Jones hasn’t dropped off and remains a highly effective player. Yet, with the team potentially entering a future where they don’t have Aaron Rodgers, the business sense of the Packers has to kick in. In that scenario, it simply doesn’t make sense to be paying a running back like one of the highest-paid players at the position moving forward.

If Green Bay was to trade or cut Jones early in the offseason, it would net them $10.461 million in cap savings. If they designate him as a post-June 1 cut or trade him after that date, that number rises to $16 million.

For a team that is not in a good position with the salary cap, Rodgers leaving would signal a need to try and fix that as quickly as possible. Jones is the most obvious candidate to help make that happen. It would be ideal to trade him to also recoup draft capital, but the running back just doesn’t fit the formula for a rebuild, especially with AJ Dillon also in the building.

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