It will take some time to process the fact that Aaron Jones is no longer a Green Bay Packers player. It's even harder knowing he will sign with the Minnesota Vikings at the start of the new league year.
General manager Brian Gutekunst isn't afraid to make decisions he knows the fans won't appreciate.
One of Gutekunst's first moves in the job was to release franchise legend Jordy Nelson. He drafted Aaron Rodgers' replacement, traded Rodgers and Davante Adams, and has now released Jones after failing to negotiate a pay cut.
History suggests the Packers are good at moving on at the right time, but it doesn't make it any easier.
Green Bay wanted Jones back in 2024, but only on a reduced salary. Jones didn't agree, and now he's playing for a division rival.
Packers reportedly asked Aaron Jones to take a $7 million pay cut
Last year, Jones agreed to reduce his salary by $5 million. The Packers wanted him to take an even more significant pay cut this offseason. Per The Athletic's Matt Schneidman, Green Bay's final offer to Jones would've reduced his base salary from $11 million to just $4 million.
Aaron Jones contract details, per source:
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) March 12, 2024
Original GB deal: $11M base, $1M incentives
Final GB offer: Little less than $4M base, $2M incentives
Vikings: $6M base, $1M incentives
Jones wanted to retire in GB but didn't want to take another hometown discount of that magnitude.
While it's understandable why Jones didn't want to take the Packers' offer, his new deal with the Vikings only offers $2 million more in base salary and $1 million less in incentives.
It appears that Jones felt disrespected by the Packers' offer—he liked a tweet that took a shot at Gutekunst and the front office. That would give him enough reason to move on and join a division rival, where he can lead the backfield and take on his former team twice a year.
Jones has taken a better offer in Minnesota. There isn't much in it, but he gets the opportunity to be the featured back and earn more money.
It's hard to blame Jones for his decision. As tough as it is to see him go, both sides made a choice. Green Bay decided to move on if Jones didn't significantly lower his salary, and Jones preferred to take a better contract elsewhere. That's the business of the NFL.