The Green Bay Packers effectively traded Aaron Jones for Josh Jacobs this season. While they didn’t agree to trade, within hours of signing Jacobs, the Packers announced Jones’ departure.
The reported four-year contract is worth $48 million, however, after year one a lot changes.
The Green Bay Packers Have A Major Advantage In Josh Jacob’s Contract
According to Bill Barnwell of ESPN:
Part of being an agent in the modern NFL is sending generous contract terms to the media. In the NBAA, it’s difficult to be too misleading with contracts because a max deal is essentially a max deal.
Unguaranteed money is the exceptions, not the rule. In the NFL, the opposite is true, which leads to some dramatic differences between initial reports on contracts and what actually plays out when the precise terms are reported.
The biggest gap between early reports and reality this year belonged to the Josh Jacobs deal with the Packers. Upon signing, the report was the running back had signed a four-year, $48 million contract to leave the Raiders and join Green Bay. And on paper, if he plays all four years, it is true he will make $48 million.
In reality though? This is a one-year, $13.2 million contract with the rest of the money unguaranteed. Jacobs could make about $1 million more this year in workout and roster bonuses.
If he impresses in 2024, the Packers can re-up for one year and $8.2 million next year. If he solid again in 2025 GM Brian Gutekunst can get another season at $11.5 million.
Jacobs and his representation might want to get a new deal as opposed to these year-to-year pacts if he impresses, but Green Bay would hold the leverage in getting those deals done.
The Packers Have Long-Term Options At Running Back
Of course, if Jacobs performs like the league leading running back in Green Bay, the Packers will have no issues keeping him in house. However, the drafting of MarShawn Lloyd paints a picture for life after Jacobs.
Developing Lloyd into a true #1 running back will save the Packers financially down the road. That being said, having two number one running backs under contract for multiple years would be massive for Jordan Love.
Jordan Love was one of the biggest reasons that Josh Jacobs (and Xavier McKinney) signed with the team. Having a solid 1-2 punch at running back would do wonders for the young weapons on the outside as well.
