Packers Decline Datone Jones' 5th Year Option

The veteran defender is switching positions in 2016. 

Demo has the goods

Just like they did with Derek Sherrod and Nick Perry before him, the Packers will not exercise the option year with Jones, according to a source. Jones, the 26th overall pick in the 2013 draft, would become a free agent after this season.

Jones will make $1,457,264 in salary and bonuses this season, but the fifth-year would have paid him $6.757 million – or about a million less than the entire value of his first four contract years.

Since the advent of the 5th year option, Ted Thompson and the Packers have never utilized the tool that was added to the Collective Bargaining Agreement back in 2011 which allows teams to control an additional year of a player's first contract. 

Last year, the Packers declined the option on Nick Perry's contract and ended up signing him to a one year deal this offseason for a million dollars less than they would have paid him had they used the option. So the Packers declining to use the option on Jones doesn't necessarily mean his days with the team are numbered.

However, Jones will have to make an impact in 2016 while transitioning to a new position. The Packers experimented with playing Jones outside at Elephant end down the stretch last year and while McCarthy raved about what he saw on film at the recent owners meetings, an objective viewing of that film shows a player very much learning on the job. 

Here's hoping Jones finds a home outside in Dom Capers defense and breaks the bank next offseason. 

 

 

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Comments (15)

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

May 02, 2016 at 06:08 pm

"Ted Thompson and the Packers have never utilized the tool"

Well, that's because if they are good they don't get to the fifth year with no contract.

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calabasa's picture

May 02, 2016 at 06:39 pm

At first I read that last graph as "Here's hoping Jones finds a home outside OF Caper's defense and breaks the bank (somewhere else) next offseason."

Yes let's hope he turns it up this year.

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RCPackerFan's picture

May 02, 2016 at 06:42 pm

Seems like more teams are not using the 5th year option then teams that are.
Kind of interesting.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

May 03, 2016 at 01:09 am

18 of the 32 teams picked up the option this year.
21 of 32 the year before.
19 of 32 in the first year of the program.

Last 10 spots have an almost 50% chance of having their option picked up. Last 5 spots in the draft had 33% chance. TT's record is 0%.

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croatpackfan's picture

May 03, 2016 at 07:51 am

But TT signed Nick Perry for his 5th year, didn't he? And that comes much cheaper than it was if he picked up 5th year option! So, I may say TT record is 33% but on cheaper way....

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dobber's picture

May 03, 2016 at 08:13 am

Yes, but he let Perry test the market, first. The fifth-year option buys you time to negotiate a long-term contract and to more fully evaluate the player without alienating them. If Perry really had been playing well, he wouldn't be a Packer right now and the Packer draft probably would have looked much different.

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RCPackerFan's picture

May 03, 2016 at 08:15 am

I haven't seen the totals. At the time I wrote that I think I saw 3 teams picking up the options and about 8 or 9 that didn't.

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TommyG's picture

May 02, 2016 at 06:45 pm

My guess is that he will be back at the league minimum or just above it. Then again MN and Chi love to recycle Packers.

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holmesmd's picture

May 02, 2016 at 08:38 pm

Let's give the man a chance to create his future. He trains hard and is smart & motivated. Let's see what he can do in this be role. I like both Jones & Neal. They don't jump out on the stat sheet but do a lot of the heavy lifting that flies under the radar IMO. Let's see how things shake out in camp!!

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holmesmd's picture

May 02, 2016 at 08:38 pm

Let's give the man a chance to create his future. He trains hard and is smart & motivated. Let's see what he can do in this be role. I like both Jones & Neal. They don't jump out on the stat sheet but do a lot of the heavy lifting that flies under the radar IMO. Let's see how things shake out in camp!!

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holmesmd's picture

May 02, 2016 at 08:38 pm

Double post. Gggrrrr

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holmesmd's picture

May 02, 2016 at 08:39 pm

"New role"

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4thand1's picture

May 02, 2016 at 08:46 pm

That seems to be the norm in the NFL these days. Players getting drafted to play different positions.

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Bearmeat's picture

May 03, 2016 at 02:01 pm

I'm glad he won't be back. Especially at that price. Datone is JAG - AT BEST....

The sad fact is that he is yet another TT "meh" to "bust" in the 1st round. What's worse is that since 2010, TT has spent six premium picks on DL or OLB. Not a single of one them is even a red chip player. To make it even more frustrating, with only 1 exception (Pep - who has worked out wonderfully), TT has not addressed this failure of his by signing middle of the road FA's that could bridge that talent gap. That is PA-THET-IC. And it's why The Green Bay Packers don't have at least one more Lombardi since 2010.

TT has done well, at literally every other position on the field. He's drafted 1st-3rd round picks, at least one, perhaps even 2-3 probowl players at every position - other than front 7 on D. Only CM3 and Daniels in 10 years is B.A.D.

Here's hoping that TT's lack of skill (or bad luck) in scouring high end front 7 talent changes for this new batch of players. Again.

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al bundy's picture

May 03, 2016 at 07:16 pm

I think they are hoping he fully develops in the next couple of years like perry has. not!

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