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Rob Demovsky, ESPN Staff Writer
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers are keeping some continuity at running back. Three days after releasing Aaron Jones in favor of signing free agent Josh Jacobs, they have agreed to terms with Jones’ longtime backfield mate AJ Dillon.
A source confirmed on Thursday that Dillon will be back in Green Bay on a one-year deal. The Packers employed the seldom-used four-year qualifying offer, a provision added into the 2020 CBA that applies to players how have been with the same team for at least four uninterrupted league years prior to his contract expiring.
NFL Network first reported the news.
It’s a one-year deal that can be worth up to $1.45 million more than the minimum, and only the minimum part of the base salary (in Dillon’s case $1.125 million) is charged against the salary cap.
Dillon also can receive $167,000 in additional compensation.
Teams can do this with up to two players, but can only give a combined $1.45 million in additional base salary between the two.
Before this offseason, only 44 players have signed a deal under this provision.
The 6-foot, 247-pound Dillon is a bruising back, but he’s never been a full-time starter. He spent his entire four-year career as the Packers’ backup behind Jones and only took RB1 reps when Jones was out with an injury.
Dillon, who turns 26 on May 2, rushed for 613 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games (six starts) in 2023. He missed the final two regular-season games and both playoff games after suffering a stinger. D
Dillon has only one career 100-yard rushing game, which came against the Tennessee Titans in 2020.
The 2020 second-round pick was one of only two running backs in the NFL to rush for 750-plus yards and play in all 17 games in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons.