Aaron Jones landing spots: Cowboys and more teams that could use former Packers RB
Aaron Jones is now free to roam about the cabin. The Green Bay Packers have decided to release the running back after securing Josh Jacobs on a $48 million deal over four years.
Monday was a beautiful cacophony of signings as teams tried their best to fill holes and players jumped at the most beneficial opportunities. The free agent frenzy is off and running, and it doesn't show signs of slowing as talent such as Jones hits the market.
The 29-year-old's departure comes with some monetary ramifications. Jones was due to make $11.1 million in 2024 ($12.3 million dead cap hit), in the final year of a four-year $48 million contract.
Jacobs comes in on a similar four-year, $48 million deal. The 26-year-old comes to Green Bay with Raiders rushing numbers that total 5,545 yards and 46 touchdowns on the ground.
Through seven seasons, Jones amassed nearly 6,000 yards on the ground with 45 rushing touchdowns. He now has some soul searching to do as he looks for his next team.
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What are the likely landing spots for Aaron Jones?
Dallas Cowboys:
There is no greater destination than a franchise scorned. Jones is just months removed from dropping three touchdowns and 226 yards on 39 carries in the playoffs. All three of those touchdowns and 118 of those yards came at the Cowboys' demise.
Washington Post NFL reporter Jason La Canfora offered the following summation prior to the free agent kickoff: “If Jones is cut, I would expect him to get immediate calls from Baltimore and Dallas, among others.”
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens bid a farewell to Gus Edwards who agreed to a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Chargers. He leaves hole in the Baltimore backfield that may or may not need immediate filling.
J.K. Dobbins is also testing the market for a promising 25-year-old running back. The depth chart is thinning out, leaving Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell, and Owen Wright the in-house answers still under contract, all of whom are 26 years old or younger.
Houston Texans
Monday was one giant game of musical chairs, with players getting up only to have their seat filled almost immediately. That's certainly the case out in Houston for the Texans, which are now one running back short.
Devin Singletary is now moving north to man the New York Giants backfield in the wake of Saquon Barkely's polarizing move to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Singletary gets a three-year, $16.5 million deal (worth up to $19.5 million) in New York. The Texans meanwhile see his consistent production move off the books. The 26-year-old has played 16 or more games in the last four seasons he has suited up for Buffalo and Houston, good for over 4,000 yards through his five years in the league.
Getting a running back you can count on each week is a tall order, and Jones certainly comes with his injury questions, but there is hardly a more gifted replacement.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aaron Jones landing spots: 3 teams stand out after Packers release
