The Green Bay Packers have reached a crossroads with Josh Jacobs. It's decision time.
Although he signed a four-year deal with the Packers in 2024, the structure allowed for Green Bay to get out of the contract after one season, with even more comfort after two. That's where we now stand.
Jacobs turns 28 this month and will enter his eighth NFL season in 2026. There's at least a conversation to have about whether the Packers could move on, just as they did with Aaron Jones two years ago.
However, general manager Brian Gutekunst made his stance crystal clear.
"Josh is a really important part of our football team. Everything that he brings to us on the field, in the locker room. He's an important part and I think he's got a lot of good years left," Gutekunst said.
Brian Gutekunst strongly hints that Josh Jacobs will return for another season with Packers
Jacobs' cap hit rises to $14.54 million in 2026, and the Packers will pay him $11.5 million in cash. That's why there's a decision. The team would create a little over $8 million in cap space by releasing or trading him.
Some might say it's best to move on a year too soon than a year too late, but there are several factors to consider.
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A big one? The Packers don't have an obvious replacement. Emanuel Wilson provided solid cover behind Jacobs, but he isn't a true game-changer. Green Bay can't count on MarShawn Lloyd to stay healthy, having missed all but one game in his first two seasons.
The only way it works is if the Packers have an alternative lined up. Two years ago, they released Jones on the same day they agreed a deal with Jacobs. The thinking was that Green Bay could target a star running back in free agency, like Breece Hall or Kenneth Walker, and make a similar move.
Gutekunst seemingly ended that discussion.
Could it be coachspeak? Sure. He had high praise for Jones in the months before releasing him. But this feels different. Gutekunst made it clear how important Jacobs is to the locker room and believes he has multiple years of elite play ahead of him.
And if the Packers aren't worried about a potential decline, they absolutely shouldn't move on.
It only makes sense to release Jacobs if Gutekunst is concerned that his production could drop, and if they can find a replacement. Jacobs has shown no signs of slowing down yet. He was limited due to a knee injury this season, and some atrocious run-blocking didn't help, but he still looked on top of his game when healthy.
We can expect to see him in green and gold again in September.