Aaron Jones took $5 million pay cut, and more than doubled his per-game roster bonuses

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The revised contract signed by Packers running back Aaron Jones keeps him Green Bay at a rate that better reflects the current market for the position he plays.

Per a source with knowledge of the terms of the deal, Jones was due to make $16 million in 2023, in the form of an $8.1 million base salary, a $7 million roster bonus due on March 17, a $500,000 workout bonus, and $400,000 in per-game active roster bonuses.

The new contract entails a signing bonus of $8.52 million, a base salary of $1.08 million, a $500,000 workout bonus, and $900,000 in per-game roster bonuses. That’s a total payout in 2023 of $11 million.

So that’s a $5 million pay cut for 2023. However, in order to get his full $11 million, more of the cash is tied to being able to suit up for each game. Previously, it was $23,529 per game. Now, Jones has $52,941 tied to each game he does, or doesn’t, play.

The 2024 season of the Jones contract doesn’t change; he’s still due to make $11.1 million in base salary, with a $500,000 workout bonus and $400,000 in per-game roster bonuses. The contract also included, and still includes, a $250,000 escalator for 2024, if he makes it to the Pro Bowl in 2023.

Thus, it’s a minimum pay cut of $5 million for Jones, and the reduction cuts deeper for each game he misses, if any, due to injury in 2023.

26 responses to “Aaron Jones took $5 million pay cut, and more than doubled his per-game roster bonuses

  1. Glad to see him move on from the offseason troubles. Any player can see that its never too late.

  2. The Packers just love lowballing their guys time and time again. There’s a stacked class of free agent running backs this year, but he would have led the pack and made more than GB’s backsliding undercut

  3. Aaron Jones has definitely been leaving money on the table in Green Bay. You can’t help but wish good things to happen for this guy. But if this means the Packers suddenly have more spending money, I’m sure we’ll see Aaron Rodgers swoop in to get it for himself.

  4. He’s crazy. Rodgers is cooked, GB is cooked and who on earth would want to live in GB anyway?

    The place is awful.

  5. Wow! Maybe Aaron Rodgers will reduce his $59 million due this year and bring it down to about $30 million to help out the team. However, don’t hold your breath on that one.

  6. The NFLPA cringes when they see this This is exactly what sets the market back, especially for running backs.

  7. I wish all compensation was commensurate with availability and production, and change each year. You get paid for what you do, not your potential.

  8. I wonder if this will be the standard for RB contracts? A lot of RBs spend a lot of time on the injury reports. I hate the norm of RB by committee, but that seems like the best way to keep them healthy.

  9. Such is the life of a running back in the National Football League. It’s important for a club to have talented backs – and Jones is one of the better ones the Packers have ever had, and it’s unfortunate the league treats them like they’re a dime a dozen. At least if he saves his money, he should be set for life when football is over … hope so, because running backs can have plenty of physical problems once that part of life is over.

  10. Well, seems like a fair solution to the team and the player. It‘s still a contract that is making him a rich man, but still gives him the opportunity to become an ultra-rich man if he’s available. All contracts should be structured like that, so that a player who is actually playing is getting paid a fortune while those who are not available still can make a good living while the team sits on the player‘s rights. Win-win except for those who want “respect“ for who they believe they are instead of getting rewarded for what they achieve.

  11. And yet, $1.5 mil more is guaranteed at March 17. He could have easily been cut before that date with AJ Dillon a cheap #1 and good RB’s in mid rounds of the draft. Who knows what he would have made as free agent, especially if he would forego money for a chance to play for good team, like Buffalo.

  12. touchback6 says:
    February 21, 2023 at 8:52 pm
    He’s crazy. Rodgers is cooked, GB is cooked and who on earth would want to live in GB anyway?

    The place is awful.
    —————————————-
    Have you ever been to Detroit or Chicago? Rodgers has a down year, still have to replace a #1 receiver, but go 8-9 and that’s cooked?

  13. It’s a wonderful thing when all of the Packer haters, particularly the Viking trolls, jump on an article about a terrific professional and a really really decent human being, just to jabber on with their insecure nonsense. This deal actually sets the table for him to come back the following year as well, so bon appetit’ haters.

  14. The Dude was going to be paid well above market value and made a smart choice to stay employeed.

  15. Have you ever been to Detroit or Chicago? Rodgers has a down year, still have to replace a #1 receiver, but go 8-9 and that’s cooked?
    ===========

    Patriots fan.

    He wouldn’t know class if it slapped him across the face.

  16. The Packers just love lowballing their guys time and time again.
    ==========

    This was, what, the 3rd time they made Rodgers the highest paid QB?

    Bakhtiari signed a deal that put him in the top 5 LTs, a premium position
    Elgton Jenkins, 2nd highest paid G after his new deal
    Jaire Alexander #4 @CB, a premium position
    Devondre Campbells deal put him in the top 5 @MLB, one of their best signings ever
    Adrian Amos, top 5 @S, a terrible deal they have dump this year
    The Smith Bros

    Shall I go on?

  17. Maybe Aaron Rodgers will reduce his $59 million due this year and bring it down to about $30 million to help out the team.
    ==========

    Aaron Rodgers 2023 cap number: $31,623,568

  18. He’s twice as good as Dillon
    ==========

    Dillon has converted 75% of his short yardage runs (1-3 yards) so far in his career.

    Jones – 66%
    Dalvin Cook- 58%……..

    I don’t think Dillon is given enough touches, personally. Especially in late-season games where the Packers should be hammering their opponents.

    One of the reasons they are home early in January.

  19. Weird. That cheesy fat guy was saying Aaron Jones’ reworked deal didn’t include a pay cut, even though we tried to explain it to him several times.
    I guess he was just wrong. Again. 🤔

    Meanwhile, the RB over in Minnesota won’t even talk to his team about a simple restructure.
    Oh well…..😉

  20. It will be easier for me to forgive him now if he once again ruins my chance of winning my second ring due to his ‘fumble-tis.’

  21. What in the world must the Packers have on Jones to get him to agree to this?

    Maybe Jones should just pay the Packers each week for the privilege of putting on their Green jersey.

    Sheeesh-

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