Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon deserve more opportunities, and not just on the ground

The Packers no longer have a superstar wideout, but they still possess two stellar running backs that can serve as the fulcrum of their offense.

For six months, the Green Bay Packers have known that they would no longer enjoy the services of superstar wide receiver Davante Adams. While the All-Pro's departure to the Las Vegas Raiders meant that the offense would have to take on a new form, one that didn't center around the unique skills of the teammate Aaron Rodgers once called the "most dominant player I've played with."

The process of reconfiguring the Packers offense understandably requires time. Rodgers has estimated that 80% of the plays in the passing game were called specifically for Adams. For his part, Adams accounted for 28.2% of the team's targets in 2021, the third highest share of any player that season. The wideout accounted for 123 receptions for 1,553 yards, each figure more than three times greater than the next highest mark in Green Bay.

Simply put, moving forward without Adams necessarily involved a near-total reimagining of how the Packers offense would look and where it would specialize.

Conjecture over those matters began in the immediate aftermath of the Adams trade and gained steam following free agency and the draft. The Packers made additions to the receiving corps -- most notably the selection of rookies Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs -- but didn't acquire the star veteran receiver as countless fans and media suggested they should. That list includes The Leap, which openly questioned the front office for allowing 24-year-old star wideout A.J. Brown to land with the Philadelphia Eagles rather than in Green Bay.

Still, for all the consternation about Adams leaving, the Packers still field one of the most talented offensive rosters in the NFL. In addition to the two-time reigning MVP under center, the team boasts a deep offensive line with All-Pro talents set to return at the tackle spots and an athletic tight end to work the seams. The cast also includes Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon, arguably the league's premier tandem of running backs.

Those two backs might hold the key to unlocking the offense in a post-Adams world.