The saga of Las Vegas Raiders’ running back Josh Jacobs has been one of the biggest stories of the offseason for the franchise. After an All-Pro season in which he led the NFL in rushing Jacobs was hit with the franchise tag by the Raiders.
Jacobs was hopeful to come to an agreement on a new long-term deal, and the Raiders themselves seemed to want the same. The two sides had until July 17 to come to an agreement on a new deal, but things were looking unlikely for Jacobs as well as the other two running backs on the franchise tag in Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants and Tony Pollard of the Dallas Cowboys.
And with the deadline now passed, the Raiders and Jacobs were unable to come to terms on a new deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, meaning Jacobs will have to play out this year on the franchise tender.
The #Raiders and star RB Josh Jacobs did not reach a deal, per me and @TomPelissero, despite extensive negotiations. Now it’s unclear when he’ll show to play on the tag. pic.twitter.com/1vAJE8j6U4
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 17, 2023
What’s next for Jacobs and the Raiders remains unclear as the back has yet to actually sign the tender and is expected to sit out at least the start of training camp. The Raiders reportedly aren’t too worried about him missing camp, but with the team looking to make a run to the playoffs, having everyone there on one page would be ideal.
This plight of running backs has been a story throughout this offseason. Over the past decade or so, teams have seemed to devalue the position overall. The success of so many players at the position who were drafted in later rounds or in some cases, not at all, as well as some big-name backs failing to perform to the level of their new contracts, has made teams cautious to provide them with huge new deals.
This has led to retired players such as Hall of Famer Marcus Allen and former All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Marshall speaking out on how they believe the position is now undervalued. But what can be done to fix the situation for running backs is unclear, and players like Jacobs are struggling to receive the contracts they believe they are worth.
Last season, Jacobs totaled 1,653 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns as a focal point of the Raiders offense. If the Raiders plan on getting back to the playoffs it would seem like Jacobs performing on the field would be a necessity. While he isn’t expected to sit out any part of the regular season, it will be interesting to see the effect this has on Jacobs and the Raiders’ relationship in the future as this could be his final season in Las Vegas.
