I’m not a fan of that. I’d much rather spend on a WR and draft a RB in the 2nd round. Not many times has it paid off to give a RB a big contract in the latter half of their 20’s.

 

Same here unless we get him on a good deal, but I would rather have them spend money elsewhere.

 

Spending premium money on a spot where you can draft a starter in the second or third round? For a guy that has had injuries all his NFL career? Jones has talent, but even Green Bay doesn't think he is worth the big money contract -that's a red flag.

 

They tried to sign him for $8 million a year.

 

Like the player, but sorry...it's a no dawg for me. I don't like paying for big money FA's. Especially RB's.

We have a ton of picks, build through the draft. Harris, Eitenne, Williams, all would be great picks IMHO.

 

After gutting the roster to build through the draft, I'm not a fan of any free agents period.

 

I'm 100% on board. He's a proven talent, a high end RB with a good nose for the end zone. He can run, he can catch, he can block - he would do wonders for Tua.

He also frees us from the need to spend the 18 or 36 on a back and let's us target a WR or OLB at those spots. If you want Etienne, Harris or Williams, you probably need to use the 18.

We tried to get cute with the position last year and struck out in the draft and in FA. Let's just solve the problem.

Cost-wise, it's not something you typically do, BUT we have a QB on a rookie deal which makes it acceptable. He's also publicly said he isn't looking to break the bank. A 3-4 year deal sounds about right, it will be ending as we are negotiating a Tua extension (hopefully) and we can go the rookie route at that point.

 

Problem is, they will spend in FA. They always do. Only question is will they do it wisely and not go after the big name big money contract guys (like Aaron Jones)?

 

This feels like a big mistake to me too. I cannot remember the last time paying an RB big money paid off for the team by the end of the contract.

Running back is the position where injuries start to pile up quickly.

I also have a bit of a conspiracy theory of sorts. I gotta think that within every industry, employees talk. My guess is that the NFL is no different. Information has also become more easily accessible. I think that the average guy on this board could look at a contract and more or less tell you when the player that signed the contract is going to get cut.

I think RBs realize that if they do get one big contract after their rookie year, it is essentially your last big contract in the NFL. The closer you get to 30, the less a team wants you, and the more convincing it takes to give you any length in a deal.

If you ball out, you might get some of those years on your contract where there is not guaranteed money any more, but I am betting that a team will like you to restructure. If you are lucky, you will. One way or another, you will eventually wind up getting released. If you did ball out, teams will be scared. Maybe you get a two year deal. I think the average guy will wind up going year to year.

This is where I wonder if RBs get this, and kinda lose the drive after they get paid. Once they get that signing bonus, they have made the bulk of their money. I think that this essentially happened with Laveon Bell signing. He got paid, and he essentially stopped caring. Now, I don't always think that it is as drastic, but I think it starts to manifest itself as their body breaks down. Is it really worth it to try and come back if you are going to go from making $10 mil per year to $1 mil per year with incentives.

 

Pass... i want Najee Harris

 

I'd like to see Miami trade up from #36 to the late first round (pick 26 or higher) to get a RB. That fifth year option is a nice plus for a guy that you might need to let go at the end of his rookie contract and replace with another draft pick.

 

I agree...and I don't think there's even a slim chance we take on multiple $10M+ contracts this off-season. I'm sure we'd sign Jones for a modest contract but that doesn't sound like what he's looking for. The guys we're going to pick up likely aren't on the average team's radar as a top priority since that's how we roll- this front office is all about value.

Besides, look what's happening with Howard. He's happy as can be, playing great, and then we paid an outside corner premium money and he now his contract isn't big enough. Our CB Jones is great, don't get me wrong....but in the grand scheme of things we'll probably lose a top-1 corner in order to sign a free agent top-5 corner. Those types of moves make zero sense if you can't make them work long-term.

And don't get me wrong, I think most of our players can see the vision coming together, but it doesn't make a lot of sense to me to prioritize Aaron Jones at $15M+ over Najee Harris, Etienne or several of the great prospects in this draft. We just don't use RB's that way. The same can be said over upgrading Parker...unless he already has a foot out the door in the front office, there's little sense in bringing in another WR1 at a much greater price tag. That one's a little different since Parker has always been soft, but still...you get where I'm going with that.

 

If im Aaron Jones I would be very careful about overvaluing himself... i think he will get a reality check about what the league thinks of him much like Melvin Gordon. Aaron Jones skillset isnt that special.

 

Hard pass. I'm ok with adding to Gaskin and Ahmed, If they want a vet Conner fr Pitt or maybe Carson fr Seattle kinda FA would be a good add to the crew, and another in the first 3 rds to continue to grow the stable.

RBs now are more like the Kia's of the auto world than the Mustangs and Camaros they used to be. You buy them cheap, drive the piss out of them for 3-4 yrs, throw away and repeat. And every now and then when you get a shot at a Z28 or a Shelby you take it, and hope you don't wreck it before it's paid for.

 

The biggest issue with Harris is that you likely need to spend the 18th on him which would limit draft flexibility. And then if he gets selected before that even (which is possible) you either have to pull the trigger on Etienne/Williams or we are looking at another year of misreading the room concerning running backs. That said, if we make him the target and get him? I'm 100% on board.

But if we come out of the draft with no Aaron Jones, no Harris, no Etienne and no Williams? Ill definitely think Grier's seat should warm up a bit.

Carson would be interesting, but injury issues. I feel he's a complimentary guy though. Connor is a nobody.

Aaron Jones is MUCH better and way more versatile than Melvin Gordon. And reports are that he isn't looking for a bank-breaking deal. I'm definitely not paying him Zeke money, but if he's available for a reasonable price, Ill solve the position.

Ultimately, I look at how we whiffed COMPLETELY last year by trying to "value" the position in the draft and have the good RBs snatched out from before our slots. Then try to sign discount free agents in Breida and Howard. Nope, I am DONE with that nonsense. Get a weapon. Don't cheap out while Tua's on the rookie deal.

 

I wouldn’t sleep on Le’veon Bell either. Rumour we liked him and were 2nd runner up for him after he was cut mid season. I could see us doubling back and scooping him up on the cheap. He would probably just be happy with a 50/50 role more centred to being the pass catching back.

Not a fan of Conner in general.

On Jones... love him as an all around back. Nose for the end zone in close, excellent receiver and also can break the big ones at any time ! Truly great and not much tread on the tires considering Packers never used him as a bell cow. I think he’ll be elite for atleast 2 more years. We could do much worse !!

Green Bay could have tagged him for 1 year 8M and did not! I think that says a lot and he will be realistic in free agency.

 

Aaron Jones or Curtis Samuel for me.

 

Let's see how fast this thread drops to the second page now...

 

Great player at the position, but Glad we didn’t pay that.
And shocked the Packers did.

 

Yep. Don't think we'll be seeing too many contracts in that range but the Pack would have a hard time replacing a guy who averaged over 5 yards per carry for them. I'm glad we didn't spend it and I'm glad a big chunk of cast has been taken out of the free agency market. One less team to drive our prices up.

 

I think his contract is fair.. its not overpriced at all.. the packers did well

 

I agree. I also think it's great to see a player show some loyalty to the team that drafted him.