Tag: A.J. Dillon

A.J. Dillon returns to Packers with cap number under $1.3M in 2024

A.J. Dillon’s cap number for the Packers in 2024? Only $1,292,000.

The return of running back A.J. Dillon will cost the Green Bay Packers next to nothing on the salary cap in 2024. According to Over the Cap, Dillon’s cap number will be $1,292,500 this season.

The Packers and Dillon agreed to four-year player qualifying contract (more from OTC here). Under this unique and rarely used contract mechanism, Dillon will earn a $2,575,000 base salary and a $167,500 signing bonus, but only $1,292,500 will count against the cap.

How small is Dillon’s cap hit? He’ll account for roughly 0.5 percent of the total salary cap, and his cap number is roughly the same as Tucker Kraft and Sean Rhyan, two recent third-round picks on rookie contracts.

Last season, Dillon averaged 3.4 yards per rush and scored only two touchdowns on 200 total touches. But Dillon has a career rushing success rate of 55.6 percent, a top-10 mark among running backs since 2020. He knows Matt LaFleur’s offense and is a capable receiver and blocker.

Dillon, a second-round pick in 2020, reportedly had outside interest from several teams, including the Dallas Cowboys and Indianapolis Colts. It’s safe to assume he took less money to stay in Green Bay, where he’s openly admitted he wanted to stay long term.

Dillon’s contract won’t guarantee he’s on the roster in 2024, but it’s a good bet that he’ll be part of the backup plan behind Josh Jacobs.

7 running back the Ravens could target in free agency

We’re looking at ten running backs the Baltimore Ravens could target during the 2024 NFL Free Agency period

The Ravens have several pressing needs this off-season, but one exciting position to watch will be running back, where three players (Melvin Gordon, J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards) could all move on in free agency.

Baltimore could add a player in the draft, but if they want to make a splashy or value signing at the start of next week’s free-agent period, GM Eric DeCosta has plenty of big-named options to target.

We’re considering ten running backs Baltimore could target with the new league year fast approaching.

10 running backs the Eagles could target in NFL free agency

We’re looking at 10 running backs the Philadelphia Eagles could target during the 2024 NFL Free Agency period

The Eagles have several pressing needs this off-season, but one exciting position to watch will be running back, where three players (D’Andre Swift, Rashaad Penny, Boston Scott) could all move on in free agency.

Philadelphia could add a player in the draft, but if they want to make a splashy or value signing at the start of next week’s free-agent period, GM Howie Roseman has plenty of big-named options to target.

The Eagles added a new offensive coordinator in former Cowboys and Chargers play caller Kellen Moore. He’ll look to institute a”physical, north-and-south run game” rooted in”getting downhill.”

With the new league year fast approaching, we’re looking at ten running backs Philadelphia could target.

1 pending free agent the Eagles could target from each NFC team

We’re looking at one pending free agent from each NFC team that the Philadelphia Eagles could target

Free agency is about two weeks away, and the Philadelphia Eagles have several players set to hit the open market. General manager Howie Roseman has to make critical decisions to fill roster holes.

While Roseman will likely look to the free agent market for answers, several in-house free agents are candidates to sign an extension ahead of free agency.

The Birds are set to have 20 pending free agents, and with another likely retool schedule on defense, the organization could conjure up a scheme for more flexibility.

According to Over the Cap’s potential transaction chart, the Eagles can easily create $35.4 million in cap space by making these five moves.

With the new league year fast approaching, we’re looking at one pending free agent from each NFC team that could interest Philadelphia.

Packers not expected to re-sign free agent RB A.J. Dillon

The Packers are not expected to re-sign RB A.J. Dillon, per Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Change is likely coming for at least one-half of the Green Bay Packers’ long-running tandem at running back. According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Packers are not expected to re-sign running back A.J. Dillon, who has an expiring rookie contract.

Dillon, a second-round pick in 2020, played in 60 games and made 11 starts for the Packers over the last four seasons. He rushed 597 times for 2,428 yards and 16 touchdowns and caught 86 passes for 763 yards and two scores.

Per Silverstein, the Packers are also in the middle of negotiating a restructure for Aaron Jones, who has one year left on his current deal.

Dillon’s best season as a pro came in 2021, but he was unable to replicate his efficiency as a No. 2 option at running back over the last two seasons.

In 2021, Dillon averaged 4.3 yards per carry, caught 34 of 37 passes (91.8%) and produced 1,116 total yards. Between 2022 and 2023, Dillon averaged 3.8 yards per carry, caught 50 of 71 passes (70.4%) and averaged 906 total yards. He averaged 3.4 yards per carry and struggled as the No. 1 option while the Packers were without Jones for multiple games in 2023.

Dillon missed the final three games of the 2023 season (including the postseason) with a stinger in his neck.

The Packers likely want more explosiveness out of the running back position moving forward, and with 11 draft picks, general manager Brian Gutekunst should have ample opportunity to add to the position come April.

Dillon played 1,604 total snaps on offense and handled 683 total touches for the Packers over the past four seasons. He scored 18 total touchdowns.

Dillon’s contract officially expires at the start of the new league year. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent.

9 potential bargains for the Seahawks to target in free agency

Here are nine pending free agents who the Seahawks might be able to sign at a discount.

A while back we pinpointed 10 targets that we’d like to see the Seattle Seahawks target in free agency. Most of them were on the high end of salary projections, like edge rusher Brian Burns and interior defender Justin Madubuike. Realistically, Seattle may have to focus its attention on signing mid-level or low-end type free agents. Re-signing Leonard Williams is not going to come cheap, and they will also have to find room to bring back both Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks, to name a couple other pending free agents who are worth retaining.

Today, let’s focus on some potential bargains. Here are nine pending free agents who the Seahawks might be able to sign at a discount.

Twitter reacts to ridiculous ‘rumor’ about Seahawks’ interest in Mac Jones

9 Running backs Minnesota could target in free agency

From Saquon Barkley to Derrick Henry, here are 9 running backs they could target in free agency

We know that the Minnesota Vikings are currently at a crossroads. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is entering his third offseason with the team and has the resources and ability to truly shape this team in whatever way he wants.

After going 7-10 in 2023 to follow up a 13-4 NFC North winning campaign, there are a lot of questions that he needs to answer and the offensive backfield is arguably the biggest one.

We all know that the quarterback position is the biggest one, but running back is just as big. Neither Alexander Mattison nor Ty Chandler have proven enough to set themselves apart as the starting running back for the future. Chandler has a better chance since he has the ability and explosiveness but there are real questions about if he can ever be consistent.

In free agency, the Vikings could look to sign a running back to help fix the running game. Here are nine options representing different levels of commitment.

20 potential free agent Vikings targets Saturday’s Divisional round

These free agents could potentially be targets for the Minnesota Vikings and are worth watching during Saturday’s Divisional Round games

With the Minnesota Vikings entering year three of the Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell era, it’s a very pivotal offseason. Over the first two seasons, the Vikings sit at 20-14 and should have more injury luck next season.

The divisional round of the National Football League playoffs has eight excellent teams with players that are about to hit free agency.

There are two great matchups on Saturday night with the Houston Texans taking on the Baltimore Ravens and the Green Bay Packers taking on the San Francisco 49ers.

In both of these matchups, there are plenty of free agents to be that could be intriguing pieces for the Vikings and worth keeping your eye on during the games.

Packers say WR Christian Watson and CB Jaire Alexander are game-time decisions for wildcard vs. Cowboys

The Packers are listing CB Jaire Alexander and WR Christian Watson as questionable to play for Sunday’s NFC Wild Card Round showdown with the Cowboys.

The Green Bay Packers are listing running back A.J. Dillon as doubtful and receiver Christian Watson and cornerback Jaire Alexander as questionable to play for Sunday’s NFC Wild Card Round showdown against the Dallas Cowboys.

Dillon didn’t play in the regular season finale or practice this week while dealing with a stinger in his neck. The Packers haven’t had a player listed as doubtful play in a game since 2019, so Dillon is unlikely to be available behind Aaron Jones in Dallas.

The real mysteries will be with Watson and Alexander.

Watson has missed five straight games with a hamstring injury. While Matt LaFleur admitted some gamesmanship in his playing status last week, the Packers coach said Watson — who practiced all three days this week — is further along than last week and truly questionable to play Sunday.

“We’ll see on Christian. A lot of it is going to be on how he feels, and where we’re at with him,” LaFleur said.

Alexander suffered a “freak” injury when he rolled his ankle during a jog-through practice on Wednesday. He didn’t practice Thursday or Friday and will be a game-time decision come Sunday.

“We’re just trying to give him up to game time to figure it out. He will legitimately be a game-time decision,” LaFleur said.

The Packers would likely start Carrington Valentine and Corey Ballentine at cornerback against the NFL’s No. 1 scoring offense if Alexander can’t play.

Inactives are announced 90 minutes before kickoff, so the statuses of Watson and Alexander might not be known until roughly 1:55 p.m. CT on Sunday.

The other 16 players on the Packers’ 19-player injury report do not have playing status designations and are expected to play Sunday against the Cowboys.

Packers expecting to have both Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon vs. Panthers

The Packers should have both top running backs available vs. the Panthers on Sunday.

The final injury report of Week 16 brought good news for the running backs of the Green Bay Packers: Aaron Jones does not have a playing status designation for the first time in weeks, and A.J. Dillon is questionable but trending toward playing on Sunday.

Jones has missed six games and been listed as questionable or out on the final injury report nine times in 2023. Now healthy after spraining his knee on Nov. 19 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Jones could be ready for his biggest workload of the season against a Panthers run defense that has allowed 21 rushing touchdowns.

“He looked good all week,” coach Matt LaFleur said Friday.

Jones has rushed 79 times for 298 yards and two touchdowns while catching 23 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown over eight games this season. His 483 total yards represent his lowest total since his rookie year in 2017.

Dillon is still dealing with a broken thumb but LaFleur sounded optimistic about his status for Sunday.

“I feel good about where A.J.’s at,” LaFleur said.

Dillon broke his thumb late in the Packers’ loss to the New York Giants in Week 14 and missed last week’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In recent weeks, the Packers have used Patrick Taylor, James Robinson and Kenyan Drake in supporting roles at running back.

Drake, a veteran, has been elevated from the practice squad in back-to-back weeks. The Packers would need to elevate him again by Saturday, but it’s possible no move is made if Jones and Dillon are both good to go for Sunday.

The Panthers have allowed 4.0 yards per rush this season. The 21 rushing touchdowns allowed by Carolina are an NFL-high.

The Packers are unlikely to have Christian Watson (doubtful), and Jayden Reed is battling through toe and chest injuries. Jones and the running backs will likely need to play a leading role for the Packers offense in Carolina on Sunday.