Aaron Jones avoided the Dalvin Cook problem

Aaron Jones accepted a reduced salary earlier this year and preserved his spot with the Packers. Dalvin Cook refused to take a pay cut, and now it will cost him much more.

Entering the 2023 offseason, the Green Bay Packers needed to figure out what to do with not one, but two Aarons. In addition to the drawn-out and heavily documented process that resulted in Aaron Rodgers moving on to the New York Jets, the Packers faced a major decision regarding star running back Aaron Jones.

Financial concerns largely drove the discourse surrounding Jones. While he remained a key piece of the Green Bay offense, his $20 million salary-cap number appeared unpalatable for a team that needed to make a series of moves just to dig out of the red. By releasing Jones, the Packers could add more than $10 million in cap space.

Little about the situation bode well for Jones. The veteran, who turns 30 later this year, knew that the market for his services wouldn't match the quality of play he delivered over the past few years. NFL teams increasingly avoid making big financial commitments to running backs, especially those with significant tread on their tires. Even now, roughly three months after the official start of free agency, Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette, and Kareem Hunt have yet to find homes.

Armed with that knowledge, Jones and his representatives made a somewhat surprising choice. They agreed to a restructured deal that included a $5 million pay cut and a salary conversion to further lower his cap number. Though not a headline-grabbing move on the level of the blockbuster Rodgers trade, the adjustments did ensure that Jones would remain in Green Bay as the team embarks on the Jordan Love era.

Some questioned the wisdom of Jones accepting a pay cut at the time. However, in light of the recent developments involving a fellow NFC North running back, his approach looks forward-thinking in retrospect.

On Thursday, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that the Minnesota Vikings will release Dalvin Cook on Friday if they have not identified a trade partner by that time. The move, once official, will end Cook's run in the Twin Cities after six seasons.  He will leave having compiled 7,787 scrimmage yards and 52 total touchdowns, earning four Pro Bowl nods along the way.

Had Cook remained with the team, he would have counted more than $14 million against the cap in 2023. Releasing him at this point in the offseason frees $9 million in cap space, money Minnesota could turn around and use on an extension for superstar wideout Justin Jefferson and other players with expiring contracts. Regardless of how the Vikings allocate those resources, Cook will spend the foreseeable future navigating a difficult market for older players at his position.