Packers and RB Aaron Jones Have 'Mutual Interest' in Contract Extension

The Green Bay Packers offense was largely inconsistent this past season, and it appears as though the organization is motivated to extend the group's most reliable asset.

According to packersnews.com, there is "mutual interest" between Green Bay and tailback Aaron Jones in a contract extension. The 25-year-old breakout star is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is set to earn $2.14 million in 2020.

Jones' salary would be a lot cheaper ($645,000), but he earned a raise based on the "league's proven escalators for players selected after the third round." The Packers, of course, drafted Jones in the fifth round in 2017, and he was awarded the boost by playing over 35% of the team's offensive snaps over his first three years in the NFL.

The Texas product is entering the territory that saw the likes of Le'Veon Bell, Melvin Gordon, and Ezekiel Elliott all famously hold out while awaiting a fresh extension from their franchises. Though both sides have yet to open talks on a new deal, it appears that Green Bay would fancy bypassing that headache.

The running back market is obviously a mess, as teams -- the Cardinals and Rams, most notably -- have severely regretted breaking the bank to extend standout tailbacks.

Jones likely wouldn't demand a back-breaking salary, but he is certainly deserving of something after leading the league with 19 touchdowns and compiling well over 1,500 yards from scrimmage.