There is a great deal of optimism surrounding the Green Bay Packers as they head into the offseason and prepare for 2024. Jordan Love proved that he has what it takes to be a franchise quarterback and can expect a big contract extension at some point this spring. The Packers’ plethora of young wide receivers and tight ends proved to be NFL ready and productive down the stretch of the 2023 season.
With the firing of Joe Barry and the subsequent hiring of Jeff Hafley, there is more optimism surrounding the defense than there has been in years. Brian Gutekunst confirmed to the media earlier this week that Jaire Alexander will not be traded; Kenny Clark was added to the Pro Bowl roster; and Eric Stokes is seeing a hamstring specialist who will [hopefully] help him stay healthy.
Indeed, this offseason is far different than the Packers’ last few offseasons because there is far less uncertainty. There is no Aaron Rodgers retirement talk, no Davante Adams franchise tag questions, and the team’s salary cap is in better shape than it has been in for years. Still, there are a few questions that need to be answered. What will the team decide to do with David Bakhtiari? What free agents of their own will return?
In his end of the year press conference, Gutekunst said that he fully anticipates that running back Aaron Jones will be back, which is great news for the team and its fans. However, AJ Dillon will be a free agent and there is no guarantee that he will be offered a second contract to stay in Green Bay. Should the Packers choose to move on, David Kenyon of Bleacher Report believes they could be a landing spot for a running back that has gone over 1,000 yards rushing in each of the past two seasons.
The Green Bay Packers Named a Landing Spot for Dallas Cowboys Running Back Tony Pollard
Should the Packers choose to move on from Dillon, they will be looking to replace him with either a young draft pick, a backup who is, to put it plainly, better, or both. In an article listing potential landing spots for seven NFL free agent running backs, Kenyon suggests that the Packers would be a good landing spot for Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard:
“Should the Cowboys decide not to keep him, Pollard would be a great target—especially for an offense that may lose a running back on the market. For example, the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Chargers may need to replace AJ Dillon and Ekeler, respectively.
“Since he’ll be 27 next season, Pollard may be able to command an annual rate around $7 million on a two- or three-year contract.”
While Pollard may have had a down year in Dallas averaging just 4.0 yards per carry, he still rushed for over 1,000 yards and has had three straight seasons of 1,000+ all-purpose yards. Jones’ own streak of 1,000+ all-purpose yards came to an end this past season as he was limited to just 11 games.
Does Tony Pollard to the Green Bay Packers Make Sense?
As far as upgrading their backfield in terms of talent, a brief look at Pollard’s numbers compared to Dillon’s make the answer obvious: he is a significant upgrade.
2023 Stats
- Pollard: 252 carries, 1,005 yards, six touchdowns, 4.0 yards per carry, 55 receptions, 311 receiving yards
- Dillon: 178 carries, 613 yards, two touchdowns, 3.4 yards per carry, 22 receptions, 223 receiving yards
Obviously, Pollard was the premier back in Dallas while Dillon was primarily the back in Green Bay, which accounts for some of the discrepancy between their numbers. However, Pollard’s yards per carry being 0.6 yards better than Dillon’s indicates that he was more efficient anyway.
One would also assume that if Pollard signed with Green Bay, it would be beneficial to both him and Jones, who would be able to split carries and stay fresh. In 2021, both Jones and Dillon had over 1,000 all-purpose yards for the Packers, so there is not an issue with finding enough touches for both Pollard and Jones in this scenario.
This all being said, one has to wonder if the Packers will look to the free agent market for a backup with Pollard’s notoriety. Similarly, one has to wonder if Pollard would sign with a team on which he would not be the premier running back.
Based on Green Bay’s history with running backs, they are far more likely to either re-sign Dillon, draft a backup, or both. $7 million is not that much, but Dillon will be cheaper, as will any rookie that they draft.
As interesting as it would be to see Jones and Pollard sharing a backfield, it just does not fit the Packers’ way of doing things.
