Happy New Year! The 2024 National Football League calendar year begins today which is when all of the moves made across the league over the past two days can become official. It’s been an eventful couple of days for the Green Bay Packers as General Manager Brian Gutekunst decided to part ways with several veterans off the 2023 team that reached the Divisional Round of the Playoffs. The team announced the release of David Bakhtiari and Aaron Jones and it didn’t take Jones long to find work. After Green Bay reached a four year, 48 million dollar contract agreement for former Las Vegas Raider back Josh Jacobs, Gutekunst tried to bring Jones back on a reduced contract, reportedly in the 4 to 5 million dollar range, the 7 year veteran decided to take his services elsewhere, signing a one year, 7 million dollar deal with division rival Minnesota. Jones becomes the latest in a long line of former Packers who headed west to cross the border to play for the Vikings, players like Brett Favre, Greg Jennings, Ryan Longwell, Darren Sharper, Za’Darius Smith and Dean Lowry who was actually released by Minnesota this week.
Jones wasn’t the only former Packer to stay in the NFC North as safety Jonathan Owens reportedly agreed to a two year deal with the Chicago Bears.
The Packers are bringing back two time All-Pro kick returner and slot corner Keisean Nixon on a three year contract reportedly worth up to 18 million dollars. The team also formally announced the re-signing of tight end Tyler Davis along with cornerback Corey Ballentine.
The other big arrival to have his contract signed beginning today is former New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney on a 4 year, 68 million dollar deal.
The start of the calendar year also means expiring contracts in the NFL and as of Wednesday afternoon, running back A.J. Dillon, safety Rudy Ford, tight end Josiah Deguara and linebacker Eric Wilson will become unrestricted free agents. Two players on the open market have already landed jobs with guard Jon Runyan signing with the New York Giants and safety Darnell Savage with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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