Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur surveys practice on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at Ray Nitschke Field in Green Bay, Wis.
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
The Green Bay Packers made one of the biggest splashes of the NFL offseason, signing former rushing champion Josh Jacobs and allowing veteran running back Aaron Jones to walk via free agency. The moves in the backfield could open the door to even more change on offense around emergent franchise quarterback Jordan Love.
Jun 11, 2024; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) carries during minicamp. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
After the Cowboys invested a third-round pick in former USC running back Marshawn Lloyd, who has plenty of explosive burst, the writing could be on the wall for veteran back A.J. Dillon.
Could the Green Bay Packers Trade A.J. Dillon?
As the regular season nears, and injuries begin to impact teams across the league, the time could be right for franchises to start shopping the trade market for veteran help.
Bleacher Report NFL analyst Ryan Fowler put together of the player each team across the league should have on the trading block, including Dillon for the Pakers.
“Dillon signed a one-year deal to return to Green Bay for 2024,” Fowler points out for B/R. “While the team could very well play out the year with him and part ways following the campaign without any contractual ties, exploring the market for teams in need of a veteran ball-carrier could see the Packers steal a draft pick in return.
“Behind Dillon, young players in Jarveon Howard and Emmanuel Wilson project as players who could handle a deep rotational role.”
Given that the Packers have invested premium draft capital in Lloyd, and seemingly want to get younger at the position, it would make sense for Green Bay to move off the veteran should the right offer come across GM Brian Gutekunst’s desk.
Through his first four seasons, Dillon has rushed for 2,428 yards with 16 touchdowns while averaging 4.1 years per carry.
Dillon likely would have some value to teams looking for a complementary back or in need of an experienced veteran due to an injury at the position.
Matt Lombardo is a seasoned NFL reporter, with over 12 years of experience covering the league.
In addition to his work at Gridiron Heroics, Lombardo covers the NFL for Heavy.com, is an on air sports contributor for FOX29 Philadelphia, and writes an NFL Substack "Between The Hashmarks."
Lombardo is the former Senior NFL Insider of FanBuzz, and prior to taking that role was a national NFL reporter at FanSided where he hosted a weekly podcast "The Matt Lombardo Show."
A former beat reporter for NJ Advance Media (Parent company of NJ.com and the Newark Star Ledger), Lombardo covered the Philadelphia Eagles from 2011 through the 2017 season before moving to cover the New York Giants for the Star Ledger for two seasons from 2018 through 2020.
During his career to date, Lombardo has covered five Super Bowls, four NFL Drafts, multiple NFL Combines, and has had his work frequently featured in publications such as Pro Football Talk, CBS Sports, and more.
In addition to his journalism work, Lombardo is a strong on air presence and is a former sports talk radio host on 97.5 FM The Fanatic, Philadelphia's first FM Sports Station and the radio home of the Philadelphia 76ers and Philadelphia Flyers.
