While the Green Bay Packers’ youth movement might mean their Super Bowl window isn’t as wide open as we’re used to, it provides a chance for young players to take charge and become the future stars who can pry that window back open. Whether it’s on the field or in the locker room, the lack of veterans means that young players have plenty of opportunities available to make a name for themselves.
This is particularly true for running back A.J. Dillon, who has emerged as a team leader, major contributor, and borderline mascot for the team. The fourth-year running back has embraced Wisconsin as his home. He’s been a powerhouse on the field and an ambassador in welcoming his teammates to Green Bay.
But Dillon is in an interesting spot, coming up on a contract year and playing a position seemingly devalued by the rest of the league. Will the Packers view him as a long-term core of their organization, or will the team seek to rebuild its running back room in the future?
Over his first three years in the league, Dillon developed into a fan favorite in Green Bay. Between his charming smile, his massive legs, and his love of the state of Wisconsin, the “Mayor of Door County” is one of the league’s easiest players to root for. Dillon is constantly expressing his love of his new home through restaurant reviews, scavenger hunts, fan meetups, and more. In just three years, Dillon has already become a Packer staple.
The thunder to Aaron Jones‘ lightning, Dillon plays a complementary role both on and off the field. With Jones and Dillon, running back is Green Bay’s most proven and experienced group on offense. Running backs aren’t the end-all-be-all of offense like they were in ancient times (pre-2000). But a good ground attack allows a team to play complementary football, and Jones and Dillon prove week after week they can influence the game through the air as easily as on the ground.
It might seem odd that a player still on their rookie contract can be viewed as a team leader, but Dillon is embracing that role as one of the offense’s leaders. We’ve seen Dillon make every effort to work with his teammates, whether it’s in practice or spending time together off the field. We saw Dillon host a fun get-together with his teammates over Memorial Day weekend, bonding with his fellow offensive players.
He plays a valuable role as a leader and an icon for the team, but Dillon will need a bigger reason on the field to stay a long-term franchise staple.
The 2022 offense struggled from top to bottom, and Dillon was no exception. A victim of a shuffling offensive line, non-spectacular quarterback play, and playing behind the team’s best skill position player, Dillon had an inconsistent year.
His 770 yards (4.14-yard average) and seven touchdowns weren’t bad for a RB2. But it was a step back from his 2021 breakout season, where he averaged 4.5 yards per carry. Dillon also broke fewer tackles and had lower yards-after-contact numbers in 2022. He also regressed as a passer, catching just 65.3% of his targets. Drops were an issue, and Dillon’s yards per target were nothing to write home about.
However, Dillon improved as the season went on and the temperature dropped, showing the type of back the Packers drafted him to be. And after a promising first two years in the league, there’s good reason to believe Dillon can come back strong in his fourth season.
In a recent Twitter conversation with a fan, Dillon addressed criticisms about his being tackled too easily with grace, explaining it’s something he wants to work on and that he’s always driven to improve himself.
Dillon’s coaches certainly still believe in him. “He’s had the right mindset and attacked it the right way,” Matt LaFleur said last week. “I think he does a really great job with lowering his pads and being able to inflict some pain on the opposition.”
“[Dillon] is the type of person, at least from what he’s shown me, that he’s going to respond to that challenge and come out and have a much more productive year,” running backs coach Ben Sirmans said earlier this off-season. “And you saw a lot of great things in spurts, but that was just the problem, it was just in spurts. It wasn’t consistent, and that’s what our goal is.”
The keys for Dillon this season will be to put last year’s inconsistency behind him, build on the good things he’s done in the past, and prove he could be the featured back if the team chooses to move on from Aaron Jones. Jones took a pay cut to stay in Green Bay, but the structure of his deal means the Packers could theoretically move on from him at any time. Jones and the Packers probably want to stay together for Jones’ entire career, but that’s not always an option in the NFL. If Dillon can step up and show that he can be a true RB1, it makes a second contract more likely.
I think the Packers will find a way to retain both backs in 2024, but it starts with a breakout year from Dillon. He has embraced the team and the region. A strong 2023 season will help him stay in Wisconsin for years to come.
