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Ex Packers Pro Bowl selection was released by the Vikings, expressed his desire to return to the Packers and accept a lower salary than when he left — but Packers fans say no: “Mistakes can be forgiven, but betrayal cannot.”

Green Bay, Wisconsin — A familiar name could be headed back to the free-agent market. According to Adam Schefter (March 1, 2026), the Minnesota Vikings have informed running back Aaron Jones that he will be released at the start of the new league year on March 11 unless a trade materializes.

The move is financially driven. Minnesota is projected to be roughly $43–44 million over the $301.2 million 2026 salary cap. Releasing Jones would free approximately $7.75 million in cap space, reducing a $14.8 million cap hit and avoiding $10 million in cash obligations. While Jones rushed for 1,138 yards in 2024, injuries limited him to just 548 yards in 2025, making him a difficult cap commitment for a team under heavy pressure.

With free agency looming, Jones made headlines by expressing a willingness to return to the Green Bay Packers — even at a lower salary than when he departed.

“I know I wanted more in the past,” Jones said. “But when you get that, you realize money isn’t everything. I just want to come back to the Packers — even if it’s for less than 2024.”
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His comments reopen an emotional chapter. In March 2024, Green Bay asked Jones to reduce his $12 million base salary by roughly 50% to help ease cap strain. After previously accepting a $5 million reduction in 2023, Jones declined a deeper cut. The two sides failed to reach agreement, and he signed a one-year, $7 million deal with Minnesota — roughly $1 million more than Green Bay’s final proposal at the time.

Now 31, Jones faces a different market. The Packers are again tight against the cap and evaluating younger backfield options. And while Jones remains beloved in Green Bay for his leadership and playoff heroics, the fan reaction has been divided.

On social media, many supporters have responded with a blunt message: “Say no.” Some point to age, recent injuries, and roster evolution as reasons to move forward rather than revisit the past. Others fear repeating a financially driven breakup that already felt unresolved.

For Jones, the message is clear — legacy now outweighs leverage. For the Packers, the decision will be colder: production, durability, and long-term flexibility.

Sometimes, homecomings are poetic. Other times, they’re complicated. And in Green Bay, this one may test both loyalty and logic.

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IT’S HAPPENING! Packers make the BRUTAL decision to trade Reed for the Cardinals’ 12-sack pass-rushing phenom.
  The Green Bay Packers have been selective with their free agency additions this offseason, bringing in cornerback Benjamin St. Juste along with former division rival with the Minnesota Vikings Javon Hargrave, and return specialist Skyy Moore. However after the departures of Rashan Gary and Kingsley Enagbare through trade and free agency respectively, the edge rushing corps is certainly looking a bit thinner than the team would otherwise want behind All-Pro Micah Parsons. So it is not shocking that rumors have already surfaced claiming that the Packers are “interested” in Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Josh Sweat. However, given that Green Bay is not exactly blessed with draft capital in 2026, having given up their first rounders in 2026 and 2027 in the trade that had them acquire Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys, it stands that general manager Brian Gutekunst may well be wary of moving any and all draft picks from this coming draft. Especially for a franchise that is notorious for its draft-and-develop approach.   So, a proposal coming from Cheesehead TV and The Packers Wire’s Mark Oldacres suggests that Green Bay could consider moving receiver Jayden Reed in return for Sweat, citing the Cardinals’ need in the slot and the Packers’ desire to bolster the pass rush. Embed X: https://twitter.com/MarkOldacres/status/2032136676219224308 “Cardinals don’t have a natural slot receiver after Greg Dortch hit free agency. Josh Sweat for Jayden Reed, who says no?” Oldacres wrote on X on Thursday. Why Would the Packers Trade Jayden Reed? It has been posited by some of the Packers media that the team could quietly look to move off of Reed this offseason. The former second round pick has been productive when on the field, but with imminent extensions likely for wideout Christian Watson and tight end Tucker Kraft, it could be difficult to justify also handing one to Reed, especially given the presence of 2025 first round pick Matthew Golden, who is expected to have more substantial role in 2026.   The Packers also have players like Evan Williams, Javon Bullard and Edgerrin Cooper to consider – all of whom are playing at a Pro Bowl level, even if none have made one – who will be up for a contract renewal at the end of this season. So signing Reed to a long term deal could be both complicated and financially unfeasible for Green Bay. Josh Sweat Would Boost the Packers’ Edge Rushing Corps Sweat, on the other hand has three years remaining on his existing contract with Arizona – which could easily become two with an early release – and would provide Green Bay with some short-to-medium term help on the edge as the team look to capitalize on their open Super Bowl window. The 28-year old had 12 sacks last season, and has managed a total of 37.5 over the past four years with both the Cardinals and the Eagles.   Playing on a defense whose opponents will be focused on stopping the likes of Parsons, having a top-of-the-range secondary edge rusher like Sweat could be even more beneficial. Sweat would face fewer double teams and have less specific defensive schematics directed on him, allowing him to roam free one-on-one for much of the season, Parsons’ health permitting. And for the price of a receiver who is out of contract at the end of the year, it could make a lot of sense for GB – even if they have to throw in another day 3 pick in 2027 as a sweetener.

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