Cory's Corner: Don't Tag Aaron Jones

Giving Aaron Jones a franchise tag won't help the Packers sign him long term. 

I really like Aaron Jones as a player. He's a dynamic running back that can do it all with electric running combined with excellent receiving skills. 

Many think that the Packers should slap the franchise tag on Jones and guarantee that he will be wearing green and gold next year. 

"It's not an organizational philosophy to not use it," said Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst. "I think every situation is different. It is a tool that is out there for us to use if it makes sense for the football team."

The last time the Packers used the franchise tag was on Ryan Pickett in 2010. He was a key cog in leading Green Bay's No. 1 rushing defense. But the Packers knew what they had in a quality defensive lineman and gave him a long-term contract 15 days later. 

I don't want the Packers to put the tag on Jones. Sure, it would help solidify the backfield with a back that is one of the best of the running backs in the NFC. 

But it would also put a black eye on the Packers' ability to sign and retain free agents. Think back to when Kirk Cousins played for Washington. Cousins made $44 million in two seasons just by playing under the franchise tag. 

The good news is that if the Packers place the franchise tag on Jones, he would only be scheduled to make $8.074 million this year. That would be thrifty for Jones' stature, but think of the long-term credibility of the Green Bay front office?

Deep down, Jones isn't going to be happy, nobody playing under the franchise tag is ever happy, and the Packers would have a hard time justifying this decision moving forward. Would a franchise tag make potential free agents think twice before inking a deal in Green Bay? 

The franchise tag is basically an intrument for front offices that cannot make a decision. Look at the Cowboys. Their inability to make a decision is going to ultimately cause Dallas to lose Prescott if the Cowboys place the franchise tag on him. 

Basically, if the Packers think that Jones is an elite player that is a cornerstone for a championship, they need to move money around to make a long-term deal for Jones happen. The fact that they haven't yet, just means they won't. 

In the age of the passer, giving lucrative money to a running back just doesn't make sense. The Cowboys prove that each day after Ezekiel Elliott signed his six-year, $90 million deal in September 2019. Elliott has fallen off since and isn't the focal part of the Dallas offense. 

Not to mention, the Packers have a featured back currently on the roster and his name is AJ Dillon.

 

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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn

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4 points
 

Comments (40)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
mnbadger's picture

March 06, 2021 at 06:19 am

Corey, thank you for coming right out and identifying the elephant in the room. The franchise tag for AJ is wrong at every level. Make him the best offer that we can under the current $ constraints. When he rejects it, wish him the best and move on. GPG

-2 points
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Savage57's picture

March 06, 2021 at 09:14 am

The only possible reason to tag Jones would be the idea you might get a #2 for him right away, instead of a 3 or a 4 a year down the road.

Even if you only get a 3 or 4 in trade, a pick today is worth more than a pick tomorrow.

7 points
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stockholder's picture

March 06, 2021 at 07:03 am

The Packers already have lost their Ability to sign other Fas. Just look at Watt. The Packers No longer honor what they sign. Either they renegotiate, or their a candidate to be be cut. I would tag Jones. It's a no Brainer. But I wouldn't sign him Long Term. My thinking is you still have to go all in. And Jones just gives Rodgers Relief. If Lefluer is planning to run the ball. He'll need more then Dillion. Injuries have happened at RB. Both Jones and Williams missed time. Gute can't afford both "Long Term". I'd rather have a electric runner then a heartache. Experience does matter.

-12 points
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packer132's picture

March 06, 2021 at 08:36 am

Didn't you read the reasons above why NOT to tag Jones? History has shown that you don't pay big money for a RB (McCaffrey, Barkley, Johnson, Mixon, Bell, Hyde). Try to sign Williams, draft in 3rd-5th round, and bring in a cheaper FA. Running backs average less than 4 years in the NFL, and injuries or decline in play is very common. Watt is a poor example, as 12 teams reportedly showed interest. That would have been a dumb signing to give him $23 millions guarantee and $15 million a year when you are $12 million over the cap and have several holes to fill. What do you mean that Packers don't honor what they sign? Its common practice in the NFL to renegotiate salaries to lower the cap and sign other players. Steelers just did that with Big Ben. Who said they are not going all in? Wait for free agency and then the draft. Then you can post another comment that doesn't make sense.

3 points
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Coldworld's picture

March 06, 2021 at 09:53 am

Look at the money Watt got. They haven’t lost their senses. Unlike the Cardinals, we don’t need a face of the franchise at a price way beyond probable on field impact.

4 points
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stockholder's picture

March 06, 2021 at 10:17 am

you would rather fill the roster with guys that get cut a year later? Sure I over exaggerated with watt. but look how P. Smith has come under fire. Bet Nick Perry would have something to say about the packers giving up on him. Not to mention a few that wanted to retire a Packer. Peppers still went on to play at his old position. So when they want you they want you. =. When they don't//// they let the door hit them on the way out.

-2 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

March 06, 2021 at 12:22 pm

Perry? wtf.

2 points
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TarynsEyes's picture

March 06, 2021 at 01:52 pm

The Packers gave up on Perry too late, as proven by the fact that since he was released not one team has brought him in for a tryout. What does that say about GB and there resigning a guy they never should have drafted? Perry was a huge development project to fit a position he would never master or fit in well. Yes, many are easily swayed by the few good stats against inferior offensive lines, but still a bust and one GB paid dearly for in salary abuse and player failure. Something I pounded the desk about from day one, "He'll never be the OLB expected, hoped for, or paid for, period."

2 points
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pack69go's picture

March 06, 2021 at 10:04 am

Tagging Jones it's a no brainer! Even it you just trade him after! letting an asset like him go for, at most a 3rd rd compensatory pick down the road in 2022 is idiotic!

7 points
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dobber's picture

March 06, 2021 at 11:24 am

"The Packers No longer honor what they sign. Either they renegotiate, or their a candidate to be be cut."

There's a difference between players you offer a pay cut or cut, and players you renegotiate for cap room. The players you renegotiate get what they want: guaranteed money up front. Those players usually don't have a gun to their heads. Extensions are usually desired by players, and if they don't want them, they don't take them. If it's a player the Packers want to extend to save cap room and they don't take it, sure the Packers could cut that player...but the player likely signs a contract somewhere else with guaranteed money up front. The player still gets what they want.

It's 2010s (and beyond) cap management. You take care of your cap using all of the tools at your disposal. You can cling to the ideals of a bygone era...but you're tying one hand behind your back.

4 points
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murf7777's picture

March 06, 2021 at 08:03 am

Cory your right on. Sure, 8M is a steal for Jones, but at what price? This is Jones one opportunity to make his big money and if we tag him he will be pissed. Use the 8M for our D. Our RB position will be fine with Dillon and company and if we want to win a Title we need a dominating D.

-7 points
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Coldworld's picture

March 06, 2021 at 10:23 am

It is not 8.9 million for a franchise tag ... it’s a little over 11m for the non-exclusive tag. In fact it’s likely a tad higher as the numbers were based on a cap of 180.5 million, which is below the adjusted minimum per the NFL.

I will lay this out in a comment below not a response. This error started with an erroneous tweet.

1 points
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Roadrunner23's picture

March 06, 2021 at 08:10 am

The franchise tag is a business option and should be used judiciously only. In this case the Packers could.
A.
Tag him and then trade him for a higher draft choice than they would get in a compensatory situation. This way they can also control where he goes.
B.
Tag him and force him to play at the franchise price.
C.
Tag him and renegotiate his current contract which is about to expire.

I would use option A. Because if the Packers do sign a few free agents and lose a few they may not get any compensation at all for losing one of their most talented players.

9 points
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dobber's picture

March 06, 2021 at 11:27 am

"Tag him and then trade him for a higher draft choice than they would get in a compensatory situation."

There's no guarantee someone will give value for a guy with his cap number in a shrinking cap year knowing the Packers would likely need to unload him.

-3 points
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scullyitsme's picture

March 06, 2021 at 08:18 am

I’m not going to cry for Jones making 8 million guaranteed. Tag him, then trade if he doesn’t like it. If no trade play him. He’s a one year rental at that point. One that has great ability and already knows the system. He’ll be 28 next year and still get a massive deal. Just probably 3 years not 4.

13 points
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Gman1976's picture

March 06, 2021 at 08:55 am

Tag me! I’ll play for $8M.

2 points
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Fubared's picture

March 06, 2021 at 08:26 am

He's not worth it taking in conideration we have a RB and there are a trove of them out there to be had cheaply. Not wise to spend you bucks on a RB unless its someone who is the catalyst for the team like a Henry.

-7 points
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jeremyjjbrown's picture

March 06, 2021 at 08:29 am

I am for Transition Tagging Jones, IF MLF thinks he's critical to running his offense.

But, I can't know that...

0 points
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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

March 06, 2021 at 12:34 pm

That runs the risk of never getting a comp pick or a pick from trading him. Under the transition tag, teams can offer contracts to Jones. If he signs an offer sheet and the Packers don't or can't match, the Packers do not get a draft pick.

2 points
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jeremyjjbrown's picture

March 06, 2021 at 02:05 pm

That's where sign and trade comes in and you can possibly get a pick this year.

1 points
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Irish_Cheesehead's picture

March 06, 2021 at 08:31 am

If a team tags a player for the sole purpose of keeping them on the roster one more year, that would be a black eye on the organization. From all I have read, IF the Packers tag Jones it’s with the intention of giving them more time to work out a long term deal. I fail to see how that would reflect negatively on the front office. If they let Jones walk, I certainly hope they resign Williams. I like Dillon, but he’s still raw and the cupboard is pretty bare behind him.

1 points
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Gman1976's picture

March 06, 2021 at 08:58 am

Tag me! I’ll play for $8M and cry all the way to the bank.

-1 points
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TarynsEyes's picture

March 06, 2021 at 10:02 am

Is Jones a 'must' have piece or is he a piece that fits well?

Must haves are unique, fits well can be replaced easier than many believe.

Jones is not the former.

Henry is unique for the Titans.

3 points
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dobber's picture

March 06, 2021 at 11:58 am

If LaF is the offensive wunderkind people make him out to be, he'll make lemonade with the pieces he's given and I think we can expect that he'll have significant input as to who those players are. The cupboard isn't bare.

1 points
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Coldworld's picture

March 06, 2021 at 10:20 am

It is not 8.9 million for a franchise tag ... it’s a little over 11m for the non-exclusive tag.

Your statement that “ [t]he good news is that if the Packers place the franchise tag on Jones, he would only be scheduled to make $8.074 million this year” is incorrect! As I and others have pointed out here.

OTC continues to list the non-exclusive RB franchise tag for a RB at $11.112 million. Bleacher report states the same as does Sporting News in recent days. For that, if a team offers over the tag and we decline to match we get 2 first round draft picks (exclusive tag is rare and is a higher amount, based on current salaries-the 11m is the non-exclusive number)

The transition tag is a tad under 9 million at $8,942m. Any player so tagged is free to negotiate with any team. The Packers would only get the right to match terms, but if they don’t, there is no compensation for the Packers.

These numbers both go up if the cap is more than 180.5 million, which we now know it will be, so these are lower than actual numbers.

Essentially, it means no other team values Jones higher than the average of the top 10 current RB salaries in his case. Thus we are either paying over the market or will be forced to the best value he can get from open negotiation or let him leave.

7 points
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JohnnyLogan's picture

March 06, 2021 at 10:39 am

We all like Jones. He's the asparagus next to the steak. Steak doesn't grow on trees but asparagus.... well, neither does asparagus I guess so maybe I'm using the wrong figurative language. Let's just say Jones is a good steak sauce, a Worchester. If the steak is top sirloin I'd be fine with garlic and herb or lemon and pepper. Naw, that doesn't work either. Maybe he's the wine... the salad dressing?... Never mind.

Don't tag him. Find cheaper asparagus. We'll be fine.

5 points
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dobber's picture

March 06, 2021 at 03:16 pm

He makes your pee stink?

2 points
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Rossonero's picture

March 06, 2021 at 10:43 am

Brian Gutekunst 'n co. knew what they were doing a nearly a year ago on draft night when they took AJ Dillon in the 2nd round. The Packers saw what was coming and pulled the trigger on Dillon. It all seemed bizarre to many of us, but it makes sense now. The RB position has simply been devalued too much, even for a do-it-all guy like Jones. I'd love to see him back, but he's just too expensive.

He deserves to cash in after playing for the past 4 years for peanuts and never complaining about it or holding out. I wish him well and hope he ends up cashing in with an AFC team like the Jets or Dolphins, so we won't have to face him in the playoffs.

5 points
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splitpea1's picture

March 06, 2021 at 11:14 am

Whether it's the right move or not, I don't think placing the tag on someone when you haven't done it since 2010 is going to cause a "black eye" for the organization. I think we're the only team that hasn't done it since.

9 points
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CheesyTex's picture

March 06, 2021 at 11:52 am

Right on, splitpea.

It seems that we tend to favor the player when it comes to the "business" side, and IMO rightly so in Jones case -- he's outperformed his rookie contract on the field, been good in the locker room, etc.

But it was Jones, not the Packers, that started playing $ hardball when he hired Rosenhaus. And when the game is $ hardball don't be a pussycat, but protect your own interests.

3 points
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splitpea1's picture

March 06, 2021 at 01:41 pm

Not only that, but the loss of Jones puts a big hole in our offense, and since a couple of our new guys (Dillon and Deguara) have only played sparingly....that's really taking a leap of faith. Of course, we could let Jones go and try to sign somebody like James White to make sure we have some kind of experience back there, at least on the receiving end.

1 points
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PatrickGB's picture

March 06, 2021 at 11:36 am

The threat of a tag can be a negotiation tool. But I can’t see it actually happening. I expect that the team will draft a RB instead. Jones was a fifth rounder. The team will survive with a good player replacing a great player. I wish it wasn’t so but that’s the reality of the cap.

2 points
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dobber's picture

March 06, 2021 at 12:02 pm

We like to point to Jones being a 5th and turning into a leading back, but it doesn't happen all the time. Turning 3rd day picks into high-end players isn't something you can count on happening right away. It would be different if the Packers didn't have a significant investment in Dillon and some tape that shows he has potential. They can take a couple swings later on to find a complement, or elevate a running mate off the PS and see what happens and not be against the wall.

5 points
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Packers0808's picture

March 06, 2021 at 12:37 pm

Use the tag or whatever means needed to keep him! The Packers have to have this back to succeed no matter what "thinking" heads think. Pack will lose at least 5 games or more without the services of Jones!

-1 points
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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

March 06, 2021 at 12:37 pm

I am aware of no evidence that teams who use the franchise tag have trouble attracting players in the future.

It is a business. Rosenmoney knows that.

6 points
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TarynsEyes's picture

March 06, 2021 at 01:58 pm

GBs failure to attract the upper FAs isn't just the money, and it's a thing that the team will need to deal with even with money to spend, or having the QB their fans assume to be the GOAT.

2 points
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jhtobias's picture

March 06, 2021 at 08:45 pm

Reason for Tag is simple if the Jets and Dolphins want to get into a bidding war for jones extract the highest draft pick you can form whatever team and give jones agent permission to negotitiate with that team .. that is smart buisness .

As for tagging someone and it being a black mark to the franchise that is not a well thought statement ... first off jones would never sign the tag nor should he unless a trade and new deal with another team is in place. 2. I do remember Barrett from Tampa being tagged last yr they won a superbowl and signed many free agents . 3. the players union agreed to this contract .

funny thing about this article and people like this man who wrote this artlcle you would be killing gutey if he didnt tag jones and let him walk for some compenstory pick when he could get more value by tagging him ..

Terrible article and alot of terrible comments on this site

1 points
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Titletown222's picture

March 06, 2021 at 10:14 pm

This article is completely wrong. We need to take advantage of every rule, clip every coupon and put the best team possible on the field in 2021

Teams have used the franchise tag Successfully since it came part of the collective bargaining agreement. In fact, recently some teams have had to tag the same player in back to back years.

While I understand using the franchise tag wont give Aaron Jones the financial freedom he’s looking for, It’s not chump change. It gives them another year to see what happens to the salary cap to see if we could reach a long-term agreement with him. If not, he can become an unrestricted free agent next year.

The question isn’t what’s best for Aaron Jones, it’s what’s best for the Packers

2 points
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canadapacker's picture

March 07, 2021 at 10:14 am

Totally agree but not if it is over 8 million. A running back is only one pile up from season ending - look at Barkley etc.

0 points
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canadapacker's picture

March 07, 2021 at 09:39 am

I am wondering where that $8 million tag figure came from Florio et all said on their podcast that they dont know and that likely it would be up around $11 mill . Now at 8 mill it is a steal but not to try and get a long term deal but to use it as a one year deal. Or go all in for the SB type of mentality. Now it would do 2 things - 1. stabilize the backfield while allowing the 2 headed monster Dillon and Jones go at it ( Williams walks and a low draft pick maybe) 2. Allow the draft to focus on Dline/Dbacks/Olinemen . Now I have read lately about GB trading up for a Dback. I sure wish that all of these draft prognosticators are required to put out on an annual basis their final Mock draft and the final actual draft selections. Otherwise how are we to know who has a pulse on it? We dont - because you talk loud and fast like Mel Kiper it makes you a genius? I think Kiper has as many flops as TT had over his career. And Kiper and McsShay picked Trubisky over Mahommes?

0 points
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