The formation of the 2024 Green Bay Packers running back room has been something of a roller coaster this offseason. With Aaron Jones under contract and having finished the season (and postseason) with five consecutive 100+ yard rushing performances, there was great optimism that the running back position was solidified if he could remain healthy.
Additionally, AJ Dillon was re-signed to an extremely team-friendly deal that will keep him in Green Bay for at least one more season.
Then, the Packers went out and signed the best running back on the free agent market, Josh Jacobs. Hours later, the team made the painful decision to release Jones after he refused to take yet another pay cut (he had taken one to remain with the team in 2023). Eventually, Jones signed with the Minnesota Vikings.
The Green Bay Packers Drafted Marshawn Lloyd in the 3rd Round of the 2024 NFL Draft
With the addition of Jacobs and the retaining of Dillon, running back did not seem to be high on the Packers’ list of needs heading into the 2024 NFL Draft. Despite this fact, Gutekunst used one of his five top-100 picks to draft USC running back Marshawn Lloyd in the third round with the 88th overall pick.
Last season, his only year with the USC Trojans (he spent the previous three years at South Carolina), Lloyd rushed for 820 yards (while averaging 7.1 yards per carry) and nine touchdowns. In addition, he had 13 receptions for 232 yards, good for 17.8 yards per catch.
Presumably, Lloyd will vie for the Packers’ second running back position behind Jacobs. Dillon has held that role for the past three years after sitting behind Jones and Jamaal Williams on the depth chart as a rookie. This selection also presents more questions about Emanuel Wilson’s (the 2023 preseason rushing leader) future with the team.
NFL Writer Has a Bold Prediction for Green Bay Packers Running Back Marshawn Lloyd
There is no doubt that Jacobs, the 2022 NFL rushing leader, is going to be the premier back for the Packers this season. After all, he signed a lucrative four-year contract and is still only 26 years old.
However, he did miss four games last season due to injury, and the Packers spent most of last season dealing with an injured premier running back. Due to these reasons, Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report believes that Lloyd will be one of five surprising gems from this year’s draft class.
He writes:
“The 23-year-old’s path to a role isn’t as difficult as it seems on first glance. The Packers only re-signed AJ Dillon to a one-year, $1.3 million contract, and offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich told reporters he would “like to get him (Lloyd) out there as much as possible.”
“Green Bay handed out a sizable contract to Josh Jacobs this offseason, but he also missed four games with injury last year. The Packers are going to want to keep him healthy throughout the season, which means Lloyd could be in line for a surprisingly bigger role and surprising production.”
The big question will be Dillon and how well he plays. He had over 1,000 yards from scrimmage in his first year as the Packers’ number option at running back, but has seen his production slip in each of the following seasons. That being said, running backs coach Ben Sirmans recently stated that Dillon is having the best offseason of his career.
That being said, based on the previous two years’ worth of production, it is not out of the realm of possibility for Lloyd to surpass Dillon as the team’s second running back. In fact, Green Bay could even decide to shift Dillon to an H-back role, which would give Lloyd even more snaps.
The fact of the matter is that everyone will have to see how the preseason plays out. However, several teams, including the New York Giants, viewed Lloyd as a future number one back in the NFL. It may not be too long before fans see him on full display.
