The NFL offseason is officially here now that the Super Bowl is in the rearview mirror. Unfortunately for us Packers fans, it’s been the offseason for a number of weeks already. I have seen a few talking points these past few weeks regarding the state of the roster, with who might come and who might go being the most discussed topics thus far. Many make sense, such as Malik Willis and Rasheed Walker leaving for bigger contracts in free agency. Rashan Gary and Elgton Jenkins have also been mentioned as players the Packers might (and should) release from their contracts due to potential cap space relief and poor play on the field. One potential salary cap casualty I have seen mentioned, however, makes no sense to me, and that’s Josh Jacobs.
The reason for cutting Jacobs would really only be financially driven. He carries with him a cap hit of $14.6 million in 2026, which is good for the fourth-highest in the NFL at his position. For a team that is currently over the allotted salary cap, that is a decent chunk of money that could be used to address other roster needs such as cornerback or defensive line. Maybe the Packers would roll the dice and try a “running back by committee” approach, turning to Emmanuel Wilson and a draft pick to be their primary backs. After all, running back is maybe the most replaceable position in the sport. Jacobs did miss some time in 2025, and one might even say that Father Time is starting to catch up to him. But I still think what he brings to this team far outweighs his cap hit.
When Josh Jacobs gets going, the Packers offense follows right behind him. In two of the Packers’ best wins this past season, Jacobs was the leading man. In Detroit on Thanksgiving, Jacobs carried 17 times for 83 yards and really helped open up the passing game, allowing Jordan Love and Dontayvion Wicks to take advantage. Later in the season, in what would be the Packers’ final win of the year against the Bears at home, Jacobs logged only 12 carries for 36 yards due to a knee injury he was nursing. But when the Packers offense needed someone to carry them, it was Jacobs they leaned on. On that final drive, he touched the ball six times in eight total plays, which included a 21-yard run on third down (one of the best runs by a Packers back I’ve seen in years) and the game-winning touchdown. Those are the types of runs that will be very hard to replace if they moved on from Jacobs.
Now, it can be stated as true that Jacobs didn’t have as good of a season in 2025 as he did in his first year as a Packer in 2024. But looking at some of the numbers more closely, it wasn’t as bad as you might think. In 2024, Jacobs averaged one broken tackle for every 4.56 carries, had a 10-yard run on 11.0 percent of his carries, and gained 79.2 percent of his yards after contact. In 2025, he averaged one broken tackle for every 4.98 carries, had a 10-yard run on 9.8 percent of his carries, and gained 77.2 percent of his yards after contact. A lot of that can be attributed to offensive line play and their season-to-season decline. Watching the season back, there are so many times where Jacobs got to the line of scrimmage and was already being met with contact, and even getting back to the line was a big accomplishment. Fixing the offensive line should be one of the biggest priorities for the team, and Jacobs will improve naturally as a result.
He also showed he can continue to be a contributor in the passing game. He actually finished second on the team with 36 receptions, behind pending free agent Romeo Doubs. That incredible touchdown catch in Denver, where he mossed the defender, shows he was underutilized in that role. Of the 24 backs with at least 33 catches, he was the only one without a drop. The Packers are already going to have to replace their leading receiver in terms of volume next year (Doubs). Will they really want to replace their second as well?
Perhaps the most important factor is their lack of depth behind him. With Wilson and Chris Brooks’ impending free agent status, the only other running backs under contract are MarShawn Lloyd, Pierre Strong Jr., and Damien Martinez. Nobody can realistically know if Lloyd is ever going to be a player who sees the field, let alone one the Packers can count on. He has played a grand total of one game as a professional in two seasons. Putting any stock in him to the point of releasing Jacobs would be foolhardy. The same can be said for Strong Jr. and Martinez, who should be able to battle it out with a rookie for a spot on the practice squad and potentially the fourth option.
I have seen the idea floated of the Packers signing Breece Hall and, in turn, releasing Jacobs, similar to the Aaron Jones release when the Packers signed Jacobs back in 2024. In theory, that could be possible. Spotrac is projecting a four-year deal worth around $41 million for Hall, an average of $10.5 million AAV. But I just don’t see it. There are so many other teams in the league with cap space to burn that the Packers likely wouldn’t be able to win a bidding war for the 24-year-old back. I also think they are going to be very cautious with signing free agents this offseason due to the compensatory draft pick haul they are projected to receive in 2027 when the group of free agents in Doubs, Willis, and Walker leave. They are better off taking whatever money and free agent options they can realistically acquire and placing them toward the positions that were actually a problem last season. Leave Jacobs right where he is and let him be the bell cow of the 2026 Green Bay Packers.