AJ Dillon and 4 Packers whose time in Green Bay is coming to an end

A season ago, the Green Bay Packers had the youngest and most inexperienced roster in the NFL but still went 9-8 to sneak into the postseason, knocking out the Dallas Cowboys before losing to the eventual NFC champion San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round.

This year, the Packers still have the youngest and most inexperienced roster in the league but are once again on a path to the playoffs, boasting an 8-3 record heading into their Thanksgiving night clash with the Miami Dolphins.

Simply put, life is good in Green Bay. And with the most comfortable salary-cap situation this franchise has had in years, life will seemingly be good in Green Bay for the foreseeable future.

For some players on this current Packers roster, however, their NFL futures will likely continue elsewhere.

AJ Dillon, RB

You have to feel for AJ Dillon.

After sharing touches with Aaron Jones for the first four years of his career, the 2020 second-rounder saw his dream of becoming the lead back in Green Bay go up in smoke when the Packers signed Josh Jacobs.

And now, after suffering what turned out to be a season-ending neck injury in Green Bay's second preseason game, Dillon has to be wondering if he'll ever even be a No. 2 back anywhere moving forward.

With Jacobs signed through the 2027 season and rookie Mar'Shawn Lloyd under contract through that same '27 campaign, there's simply no room for Dillon on the Packers' roster beyond this year.

Josh Myers, C

Taken in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, Josh Myers was given the unenviable task of replacing All-Pro Corey Linsley at the center position.

Nobody was expecting him to be Linsley, but Myers hasn't even come close. Sure, he's had his moments here and there, and he's been extremely durable, missing just one game in the past three years.

But it's time for Myers to go, as he just hasn't improved as much as the Packers (and Jordan Love) need him to.

His overall PFF grade topped out at 60.4 in 2022, and his 51.5 mark this season ranks 37th out of 38 eligible centers. It's time for the Packers to upgrade.

Eric Stokes, CB

Much like Myers hasn't improved over the years at center, Eric Stokes hasn't improved at the cornerback position either.

But what makes Stokes' issues more disappointing is the fact that he was a first-round pick out of Georgia in that same 2021 draft.

Now in his fourth season, Stokes hasn't recorded an interception since his rookie year and hasn't even recorded a pass defended since that same rookie season, which is why the Packers chose not to pick up his fifth-year option.

With a 50.0 PFF grade, the former Bulldog ranks 105th out of 110 cornerbacks. He's been targeted 38 times in 12 games this season, giving up 25 receptions and allowing a 106.6 passer rating to opposing quarterbacks.

Corey Ballentine, CB

Sticking with the cornerback position, Corey Ballentine is somewhat already out the door in Green Bay, as he's been relegated to third-string duties this season and spends most of his time on special teams.

After taking 488 defensive snaps a season ago, the 2019 sixth-rounder has taken just 45 in 2024. With a 47.7 overall PFF grade and a 50.4 coverage mark, the writing is on the wall here. Ballentine and his $2.1 million salary are out the door come March.

Isaiah McDuffie, LB

Much like the other members of the 2021 draft class who haven't improved much over the years, Isaiah McDuffie has become a liability, especially since defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley came in and switched from the 3-4 to the 4-3.

Outside of a solid performance in the Packers' Week 9 loss to the Detroit Lions, McDuffie and several other Green Bay linebackers have been exposed.

He's consistently out of position, and while he's been decent enough against the run, his pass defense has been atrocious.

McDuffie has been targeted 37 times in pass coverage and has allowed 30 receptions. That's an 81.1% completion percentage, by the way, which obviously isn't great. He's still a good enough player on special teams, but his days as a starting linebacker could be numbered, as could his days in a Packers uniform.

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