The Green Bay Packers’ unexpected free agency move took their own head coach off guard.
When the Green Bay Packers opted to sign Josh Jacobs and cut Aaron Jones, head coach Matt LaFleur was caught off guard. As the squad looks to build off a strong 2023 season, he acknowledged that the decision “caught me off guard”.
With a 9-8 record the previous season, the Packers advanced to the postseason and triumphed against the Dallas Cowboys. With Aaron Rodgers gone, Jordan Love took over as their star player and all of this was accomplished.
In order to provide Love with additional help for the 2024 NFL season, the organization sought to bolster its offensive. LaFleur thought Jones, a franchise legend, would remain in place, though.
LaFleur thought that despite an injury-ridden season, Jones would be back in action for the Packers come September. He believed that Jones, who was picked by the Packers in the 2017 NFL Draft, would continue to be their running back.
That was prior to the opening day of this offseason’s free agent talks for teams. Rather than keeping Jones, who is third in the franchise’s all-time rushing yard total, they elected to sign free agent Jacobs.
Their head coach was taken aback by the decision. “To be honest with you, it kind of caught me off guard,” LaFleur remarked in reference to Jones’ departure.
“Obviously, there were other issues involving Aaron Jones, and I wasn’t really sure how things would turn out. It all happened so quickly on Monday.”
The Packers first attempted to persuade Jones to accept a wage reduction when his four-year, £36 million ($48 million) contract was inked in 2021. However, the 29-year-old was freed after refusing and signed a one-year, £5.25 million ($7 million) contract to play with the Minnesota Vikings, division rivals.
“It happened really fast, so I don’t know all the details of that,” LaFleur admitted without giving much away. “I’m not involved in those types of conversations. But we were super excited [to get Jacobs].”
With Super Bowl dreams growing among the team, thanks to Love’s remarkable first year as a starter, the Packers moved swiftly to strengthen their squad. They signed Jacobs, to a four-year deal worth £36 million ($48 Million), then picked up former New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney.
Two years ago, the Las Vegas Raiders chose to do away with the final year of Jacob’s rookie contract, suggesting a possible departure after the 2022 season. However, Jacobs claimed the rushing title the following year then struggled to repeat his success, averaging just 3.5 yards per carry last season before an unfortunate thigh muscle injury in December cut his season short.
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