Josh Jacobs is surely happy that the Las Vegas Raiders declined the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, and now we wait and see if the organization will pay him.
Despite two 1,000-yard seasons under his belt plus a campaign of 872 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns in 2021 (in 15 games), the Raiders decided against extending Jacobs’ rookie contract for one more season.
All Jacobs did was finish as the NFL’s rushing yards leader in 2022 (1,653) and 12 rushing touchdowns to go along with 53 receptions for 400 receiving yards. If not the Raiders, someone promises to pay Jacobs a pretty penny this offseason.
Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network spoke to sources at the Senior Bowl to gather some information on the statuses of several NFL running backs. According to Pauline, it’s believed that the Raiders will use the franchise tag on the Alabama product:
“It was a consensus in Mobile that Las Vegas RB Josh Jacobs will be franchise tagged by the Raiders. Jacobs is one of the few first-round picks from the Mayock/Gruden regime that panned out. The Raiders selected Jacobs in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Alabama.
At this year’s Pro Bowl, Jacobs said that the two sides had yet to start contract negotiations, but that he expected them to begin next week. Unfortunately, he was also asked about the prospect of being tagged, to which he responded, “Hero turned villain.”
Clearly, Jacobs is hoping for a long-term extension and not a one-year stopgap. However, he’s made it clear that he wants to stay in Las Vegas.”
Per Pauline, Jacobs added that Vegas is where he wants “to be”, though he emphasized that the Raiders’ contract offer has to be fair as well:
“I’m not going to lie; this is where I want to be. I’ve grown a fan base here, I’m deep into this organization, I’ve broke records, and I’ve built a home here. This is where I want to be, but at the same time, it’s gotta make sense. I’m not going to let them [the Raiders] come in and disrespect me or anything like that. So, it’s just gotta make sense.”
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The Raiders are preparing to move on from longtime starting quarterback Derek Carr, who will be traded or released in the coming weeks. If they decide to retain Jacobs, that’s a strong indicator that Vegas is passing on a rebuild and instead hopes to be competitive in 2023.
Jacobs, Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller form one of the best sets of offensive playmakers in the NFL. Keeping Jacobs would go a long way in helping Vegas retain their status as a offensive juggernaut, but as the 2022 rushing champion said, the offer has to make sense for him.
