Packers New Running Back Josh Jacobs At Lambeau Field - Photo by Green Bay Packers
GREEN BAY, WI (WSAU) – The Packers officially welcomed their two new star free agent signings Josh Jacobs & Xavier McKinney to Green Bay on Friday morning as both signed their deals and spoke to the media.
According to The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, McKinney officially inked his four-year, $68 million contract with a $23 million signing bonus, while Jacobs signed his four-year, $48 million deal with a $12.5 million signing bonus. Jacobs was asked during his press conference about replacing Aaron Jones, whom he knows from training in Miami last offseason, saying he wants to keep things simple. “Obviously, he’s a legend around here… I don’t really consider myself coming in and replacing what he’s done. I just try to hold that standard.”
Josh Jacobs knows Aaron Jones from offseason training in Miami.
“Obviously he’s a legend around here … I don’t really consider myself coming in and replacing what he’s done. I just try to hold that standard.” pic.twitter.com/KDfO2vstMu
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) March 15, 2024
Jacobs, 26, who will be the league’s highest-paid running back this upcoming season, noted that he had at least 10 teams interested in signing him, but playing with Jordan Love and re-joining former coach Rich Bisaccia in Green Bay were the main reasons he chose the Packers.
Jacobs, a first-round selection in the 2019 draft class, took a step back during a frustrating season in 2023 after producing over 2,000 total yards and scoring 12 touchdowns in 2022, when he was an All-Pro.
Safety Xavier McKinney praised Love as well, saying that he was a “big factor” in deciding to sign with the Packers. “You need to have an elite quarterback to be able to even have a chance, and I believe he is an elite quarterback.”
Xavier McKinney says Jordan Love played a “big factor” in him joining the Packers.
“You need an elite quarterback to be able to even have a chance and I believe he is an elite quarterback.” pic.twitter.com/eXuO77mzrp
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) March 15, 2024
McKinney also spoke about his strong 2023 season, where he only missed seven total tackles, saying, “That six or seven is too much for a safety. We’re going to get that number down for sure.”
Last season, McKinney was rated as the fourth-best safety by Pro Football Focus and has proven his ability to play the run, tackle in space, and cover from sideline to sideline.
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