The Las Vegas Raiders have been very active since the start of NFL free agency making a number of moves in hopes of improving the team. But one move the franchise made came as a shock to many, including All-Pro running back Josh Jacobs.
The Raiders dealt away former Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller to the New York Giants for a third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Though he has struggled with injuries, Waller remains one of the most talented and explosive tight ends in the NFL and was in line to be a major weapon for new quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
The move did not go down well with many fans and seemingly not with Jacobs either who sent out this tweet not long after news of the trade was announced:
Shits sad fr
— Josh Jacobs (@iAM_JoshJacobs) March 14, 2023
Jacobs and Waller have been teammates for four years now so the two had surely developed a close relationship. The apparent frustration could be at the fact that Jacobs’ good friend is no longer on the team, just as much as it is about the Raiders dealing away a talented player for a mid-round draft pick.
When the Raiders agreed to terms to bring in wide receiver Jakobi Meyers it seemed to signal to many that a deal could be on the way. The Raiders already had DaVante Adams, Hunter Renfrow and Mack Hollins at receiver along with Waller and the emerging Foster Moreau at tight end so clearing some cap space by moving one of their pass catchers made sense.
The Waller deal ultimately cleared around $11 million in cap space for the Raiders, but whether they are better overall after this move is questionable. Meyers has developed into a solid receiver throughout his time in the NFL, and he knows the offensive system of head coach Josh McDaniels well and should be able to fit right in.
But making moves that anger the players on the roster is something the Raiders should not make a habit of. Jacobs is already surely frustrated at being hit with the franchise tag and still has yet to secure the long-term deal that he wants. Combine that with seeing a very talented teammate get traded away and the frustration only grows that much more.
If the two sides aren’t able to come to terms on a long-term deal, Jacobs’ happiness with the franchise will be something to watch all season long.
