Packers did not place their franchise tag on RB Aaron Jones, per source. Jones is headed to free agency, though Green Bay is attempting to re-sign him before he gets there.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2021
The Green Bay Packers did not use the franchise tag to extend their negotiating window with running back Aaron Jones, but the team is still trying to get a new deal done with their dynamic Pro Bowler before the start of free agency.
Instead of months, the Packers now have days.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Packers will continue their attempt to re-sign Jones before the new league year opens next Wednesday.
Jones, a fifth-round pick in 2017, has an expiring contract and will be an unrestricted free agent if he doesn’t agree to a new deal with the Packers over the next eight days.
While the Packers don’t want to lose one of their top playmakers, Jones likely wants to see what the open market has to offer – and he’ll get that opportunity now that the deadline for using the franchise tag passed on Tuesday afternoon.
The Packers are currently $12 million or so over the salary cap floor and would need to shed salary via player cuts, restructures or extensions to open up enough space to get a long-term deal done with Jones.
A first-time Pro Bowler in 2020, Jones figures to be one of the top offensive free agents available when the market opens next week. After producing over 3,000 total yards and scoring 30 total touchdowns over the last two seasons, he’s well-positioned to score a big payday and enter the upper tier of running back contracts, both in salary per year and guaranteed money.
The Packers reportedly made several competitive offers to Jones during the season, but the offers lacked sufficient guaranteed money and were turned down. Unless the Packers are ready to offer more money guaranteed, Jones is likely headed elsewhere.
Deadlines often spur action. Tuesday’s franchise tag deadline didn’t create any action for Jones and the Packers, but it’s still possible – although also unlikely – that a new deal could get done between the two sides over the next week. If not, Jones will play for a new team in 2021, and the Packers will start the A.J. Dillon era at running back.
