Four years later, you can confidently say that the Green Bay Packers plan for running back AJ Dillon has never materialized. When general manager Brian Gutekunst took him with the 62nd overall pick in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft (he was the 113th player on The Athletic’s Consensus Big Board), there was an idea that eventually he would be a full time starter.
After all, Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams were both entering contract years. However, the Packers re-signed Jones and, even four years later, the older running back is still more efficient. Now, Dillon is slated to be a free agent, and his future in Green Bay is uncertain.
“AJ’s been a great member of our team,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said right after the season. “You got to have multiple backs in this league. You have to. It’s just the pounding these guys take. I think you could really see his value every year towards the end of the season.”
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AJ Dillon was always a running back two. In terms of success rate, he’s effective, but he always lacked explosiveness. Throughout his career, his average of yards per carry was a good indication of offensive line play, because he didn’t have much ability to create extra yards — something Aaron Jones excels at.