Packers Lose 2,400 Yard Running Back To NFC Foes In Stage 2 Of Free Agency

The Green Bay Packers established a solid foundation at the running back position in 2024.

Josh Jacobs proved himself to be well worth the $4 year, $48 million contract signed last offseason with another Pro Bowl year, whilst backups Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks acquitted themselves nicely as competent backups.

All this was done without rookie third round pick, Marshawn Lloyd, and former RB2, AJ Dillon, the latter of whom missed the entirety of 2024 with a neck injury.

And it seems like Dillon may well have played his last snap for the Packers, as reports came out that the former 2nd round pick has been signed by NFC competitors, and reigning Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles.

Dillon was always going to be an interesting situation for Green Bay going into 2025, particularly since his 1-year, prove it-esque deal in 2024 was effectively wrote off due to his injury.

He now joins a bona fide Super Bowl contender in the Eagles, and will have an opportunity to compete for the backup RB slot behind reigning Offensive Player of the Year, Saquon Barkley, after the departure of current backup, Kenneth Gainwell, to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

How Does Dillon Fit Into His New Team’s Plans?

Heading into 2025, the Eagles will likely bank on once again being one of the better teams to run the ball in the entire league.

But much of that hinges health and success of Barkley, who managed over 2,000 yards in 2024.

If Barkley goes down, Dillon will not stop Philadelphia’s rushing attack from going down several pegs. And unless something radically shifts, neither will fellow backup tailback; last year’s fourth round pick; Will Shipley.

But the Eagles are banking on Dillon doing what he does best; coming in as “relief” for Barkley as a hard-hitting power-back who still has the ability to make plays in the passing game out of the backfield – a trait emphasized in former head coach, Matt LeFleur’s offense back in Green Bay.

Where Does The Packers’ Run Game Go Without Dillon?

Few legitimately thought that Dillon would be back with the team come 2025, considering the presence of Jacobs, Lloyd, Wilson and Brooks on the roster.

Even with this year’s strong running back class in the draft, it is unlikely that Green Bay will add a back before the fifth or sixth round – if at all.

The team will hope to get something from Lloyd after his lost season, and likely believe that there is even more to come from Wilson and Brooks after their impressive debut-year stints in the RB2 and RB3 positions respectively.

Unless disaster strikes and Jacobs gets sidelined through injury or suspension, Green Bay have a pretty high floor on their ground attack, which will also benefit from the offseason addition of Aaron Banks.

Banks did excellently as a run blocker in Kyle Shanahan’s outside zone run scheme, which shares many similarities with LeFleur’s, and hopefully he can transfer that forward momentum to the Packers’ rushing offense in 2025.