With training camp fully underway, the Las Vegas Raiders backfield looks shaky at best, with Josh Jacobs still away.
The Raiders and Jacobs were unable to agree to a long-term deal before the July 17 deadline and the running back to date has refused to sign the franchise tag worth a little over $10 million. Saquon Barkley and Tony Pollard were able to come to agreements with the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys, respectively, but it looks like Jacobs is intent on sitting out potentially into the 2023 season.
So far, the star has shown no inclination of joining Las Vegas in camp though that could always change. Josh McDaniels has already come out and said that he supports his player’s decision and would welcome him back whenever the situation is resolved, but it’s anyone’s guess when that could happen.
However, it appears that the organization would like Jacobs back at camp as they’ve opened themselves up to reviving talks on a potential deal via Josina Anderson of CBS:
New: My understanding is, the #Raiders are open to restarting talks with RB Josh Jacobs, with the hopes of getting him to rejoin the team, which still remains the goal for the organization.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) August 1, 2023
Due to the rules, Jacobs can’t sign anything longer than a one-year deal, though Barkley’s contract with the Giants can serve as a template. Barkley’s contract can pay him up to $11 million with incentives, a good compromise if Jacobs and his camp are amenable.
The months-long saga has taken away from some of the excitement of the upcoming 2023 season, though the Raiders have been moving forward with a running back committee of Zamir White, Brandon Bolden, Ameer Abdullah and Sincere McCormick. While none of them are near the level of Jacobs, McDaniels at least has some options in the backfield to hold down the fort until the Alabama product returns.
Hopefully, the relationship between Jacobs and the Silver and Black hasn’t completely deteriorated, and the two sides are able to go back to negotiating. Some sort of resolution before the start of Week 1 would be great, but fans shouldn’t hold their breath.
Raiders reportedly offered Jacobs up to $12 million annually
While Barkley was able to settle on a deal that made sense for him, Jacobs and his representation could be thinking bigger if the Raiders do come calling again. It’s clear at this point that Las Vegas isn’t looking to break the bank on a running back deal, though they did reportedly offer Jacobs $12 million annually.
That number looks great on paper, though it is unclear if that was fully guaranteed or not.
