A lot of change has come to the Green Bay Packers this offseason, especially within the running back room. The team made waves this offseason after they shockingly released Pro Bowl running back Aaron Jones. Jones spent seven seasons in Green Bay and finished ranked top-five in franchise history in many major rushing categories.

To make up for the loss of Jones, the team quickly acted to add All-Pro back Josh Jacobs on a four-year deal. Jacobs has recorded at least 1,100 scrimmage yards in each of his five seasons in the NFL (all with the Raiders). In addition to signing Jacobs, Green Bay also brought back free agent back A.J. Dillon on a one-year deal.

Dillon doesn’t appear to be a long-term option for the team, which is why they could be looking add a running back in the draft like Wisconsin’s Braelon Allen. But signing a younger veteran could make sense too. This is where a player like J.K. Dobbins could come into play.

Why Dobbins Makes Sense

The problem for the former Buckeye is that he has battled injuries throughout much of his young career. He has played in just eight games over the last three seasons. However, after tearing his Achilles in 2023, he has been cleared for football activities. With free agent visits beginning soon for him, the Packers should try to request a visit.

When he played 15 games as a rookie in 2020, he rushed for 805 yards on just 134 attempts. That equates to an average of 6.0 yards per carry. If the former All-American could just stay healthy, even in a reserve role, he would be a great asset to any playoff team. With Jacobs as the bell cow back, Dillon and Dobbins could come in on third down or any other down to spell Jacobs and provide Matt LaFleur with productive playmaking ability in the backfield.

What Would A Contract Look Like

Given the 25-year-old’s injury history, Green Bay would likely offer him a one-year prove-it deal, which is why this idea seems very unlikely. They might as well just draft a talented, healthier back in the draft that will be in Green Bay for the next four seasons. But if Dobbins comes in, stays healthy, and plays well within a stable of running backs, he could be signed to a multi-year deal the following season.