Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon could be on the trade block ahead of the 2024 season depending on how training camp goes.
The Green Bay Packers have done a great job extracting value from his roster over the last few seasons. Whether it is general manager Brian Gutekunst squeezing draft capital out of trades or Matt LaFleur and his staff developing players, Green Bay is in a great spot moving forward.
Potentially the youngest team in the NFL for a second consecutive season, the Green Bay Packers will be a team to keep an eye on in training camp. They can dip into the free agent market to bring in veteran help if weaknesses are found.
One area that looks to be a strength for the team heading into the season but could change is running back. Josh Jacobs was signed in free agency to be the new lead back, leading to the release of Aaron Jones.
The team also drafted MarShawn Lloyd in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Depending on how he looks during training camp, his presence could lead to AJ Dillon becoming expendable.
AJ Dillon hit free agency this offseason but was met with a relatively cold market. As a result, he agreed to return on a cheap one-year deal that included just about $200,000 as his signing bonus.
He knows the system, as he has spent four seasons with the franchise. However, he could lose out in the number game given the depth of the team. As shared by Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report, younger players emerging could result in AJ Dillon being moved.
“However, the Packers also drafted MarShawn Lloyd in the third round of the draft after signing Josh Jacobs in free agency. Those aren’t moves the team would have made if they felt confident in Dillon’s fit with their offense moving forward.
Jacobs will be the team’s top back to start the season. It’s reasonable to assume that Lloyd will be the No. 2 early in the year. That would leave Dillon as the third running back, but they have intriguing young options in Emanuel Wilson and Jarveon Howard,” Ballentine wrote.
AJ Dillon’s standing on the Green Bay Packers in 2024 could very well be determined by how Wilson and Howard look. If they seem capable of handling the No. 3 role behind Jacobs and Lloyd, Dillon becomes expendable.
Not only would the team be saving a few dollars by trading him, but it would also open up a roster spot. That could be used to fill another area on the roster, such as cornerback or bringing in a veteran quarterback.
