Josh Jacobs is coming off a campaign in which he led the NFL in rushing yards, so he’s going to be a wanted man in the offseason.
The running back is set to be a free agent this year and will undoubtedly have plenty of suitors, though the Las Vegas Raiders can franchise tag him.
The Raiders did not pick up the player’s fifth-year option last year, with the team basically challenging him to prove that he deserved a deal. He went out and did just that, rushing for a league-high 1653 yards while also setting career-highs in carries (with 340) and yards per attempt at 4.9. He also matched his career-high of 12 touchdowns, averaging 97.2 rushing yards per game.
As a result, Jacobs earned a second Pro Bowl selection and a first All-Pro first-team nod. He’s now the one set to make the big decisions this time around.
While the Raiders can franchise tag Jacobs to prevent him from becoming an unrestricted free agent, he has laid down some demands, according to Dov Kleiman.
The 24-year-old has reportedly let the Raiders know he’s planning on getting paid, while he also wants better players around him.
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The player revealed having joked about following Derek Carr wherever he goes while at the Pro Bowl on the weekend.
“Me and (Carr) sat down and were just like ‘Man, it’s a possibility that it could happen,'” he said. “So it’s definitely something that I’m keeping my options open with, but he’s a great dude, wherever he ends up he’s definitely going to contribute to that team in a positive way, and I’m happy for him.”
Jacobs also seems keen on remaining in Vegas but is keeping his options open, so it’s now up to the team to foster the right circumstances.
“I mean for me, I’ve got the Raiders seal tatted on me. It’s always something that I wanted to be a part of,” he said on Good Morning Football this Thursday (H/T NFL.com). “I want to give back to win and change the culture to get the winning mentality and things like that, I’m fully invested in that.
“I mean I just bought a house in Vegas, it’s definitely a place that I want to be.”
