SALT LAKE CITY — Like he was in Provo, Jamaal Williams is a fan favorite in Green Bay.
His effervescent smile, contagious positive attitude and seemingly nonstop dance moves make BYU’s all-time leading rusher easy to like.
But could the three-year veteran be looking for a new NFL home sometime in the next year?
It’s a question worth pondering, after the Packers drafted a running back — Boston College’s AJ Dillon — with the 62nd overall pick in the second round of last weekend’s 2020 NFL draft.
For the past three seasons, Williams has shared the Green Bay backfield with Aaron Jones, after the two were taken in the 2017 draft — Williams in the fourth round, Jones one round later. Jones has developed into the team’s lead ball carrier, with Williams the complementary back.
How will the addition of Dillon impact the 2020 season?
“With both (Aaron) Jones and (Jamaal) Williams in the final year of their respective deals, it seems likely that the Packers will go with Jones and (AJ) Dillon as their running back rotation, leaving Williams as a possible special-teamer or candidate for release.” — ESPN’s Bill Barnwell
In an article outlining one trade or cut option for every NFL team following the draft, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell identified Williams as a potential casualty for Green Bay with the addition of Dillon.
“Packers fans haven’t taken kindly to the team’s draft, but they might find a silver lining in the decision to use a second-round pick on bruising running back AJ Dillon. Williams has been an ineffective change-of-pace back for his entire career and dragged down the Green Bay offense when he was on the field replacing Aaron Jones,” Barnwell wrote.
“With both Jones and Williams in the final year of their respective deals, it seems likely that the Packers will go with Jones and Dillon as their running back rotation, leaving Williams as a possible special-teamer or candidate for release.”
Williams put up career-lows in carries (107), rushing yards (460) and rushing touchdowns (one) last season. He did, however, have career-bests in receptions (39) and receiving touchdowns (five) to go with 253 receiving yards.
Jones, meanwhile, had career-high numbers across the board last season, with 236 carries for 1,084 yards and 16 touchdowns, which tied for the league lead. He added 49 receptions for 474 yards and three touchdowns. With Jones leading the way under first-year head coach Matt LeFleur, Green Bay finished the 2019 season No. 15 in the league in rushing yards per game (112.2) and advanced to the NFC conference championship game.
Dillon became Boston College’s all-time leading rusher in just three seasons with 4,382 career rushing yards and 38 touchdowns, highlighted by 1,685 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2019. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns every year in college and had 14 career 150-yard games and four 200-yard games.
In the days since the draft, some have wondered if Dillon could be a replacement for Jones as Green Bay’s lead back.
“Not only will Dillon be the thunder, he might also be the starter a year from now,” Jason Wilde wrote for the Wisconsin State Journal. “Both Jones and Williams, whom the Packers added on Day 3 of the 2017 NFL Draft, are headed into the final years of their contracts, and general manager Brian Gutekunst will have to decide at what price he’d be willing to bring Jones back and whether Williams can be had for a reasonable rate to continue as a valuable backup.”
Both Williams and Jones are due to make $2.13 million in base salary this season, with Williams earning a larger signing bonus ($141,498 to $50,487), according to Spotrac. No details have been reported yet on Dillon’s contract.
Forbes writer Rob Reischel, in discussing how Jones’s future with the Packers could be in doubt, said that while Williams won’t “wow” anyone — like the more explosive Jones — he is reliable. Jones missed four games each of his first two seasons, while Williams has missed just two games in three years.
Plus, Williams likely come at a cheaper cost next offseason when both he and Jones become unrestricted free agents, barring trade or release.
“It’s unlikely that Williams will draw as much attention if he reaches free agency in March, 2021. But Jones could be poised for a huge contract,” Reischel wrote. “That deal is unlikely to come from Green Bay, though, now that the Packers have Dillon in tow.”
The ultimate question to follow this season is how the three running backs coexist in LeFleur’s system, and what impact this season could have going forward if all three end up playing in 2020 for the Packers.
“I think he’ll be a great complement to Aaron Jones and Jamaal,” Green Bay scout Mike Owen said on a conference call with reporters about Dillon. “I think that’s a three-headed beast that can come in, take this running game to the next level. You’ve got a nice mixture of running styles. I would say Aaron Jones is more like lightning, you’ve got the thunder right here with AJ Dillon and Jamaal Williams.”