There have been earlier reports that the Raiders may want to keep the talented running back, but only on their terms. The organization had no interest in franchising Jacobs for a second consecutive season, which would have locked the RB into a $14.14MM deal. That commitment would have ranked Jacobs third in his position in terms of average annual value (behind Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara) and increased his cap hit by approximately $2.5 million in 2023.
Given the position’s deep free agency class and the anticipated strain that some free agent running backs will undoubtedly experience, Jacobs should be relieved that the Raiders place some value on stability. The running back has spent his whole career with the team, including a 2022 season in which he finished with a league-high 2,053 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns. That performance came after the Raiders declined to take up Jacobs’ fifth-year option, leaving him an impending free agency last offseason.
The company never let their star to free agency, instead tagging him with the franchise tag. The two sides were unable to agree on a long-term extension, but they eventually revised the 2023 contract to avoid a holdout. While Jacobs couldn’t equal his 2022 output, he did manage 1,101 yards from scrimmage before missing the final four games of the season.
This time around, Jacobs will face a different administration in Las Vegas, which may not work in his favor. As our own Adam La Rose recently pointed out, incoming Raiders general manager Tom Telesco was in charge of the Chargers’ front office when the team permitted Austin Ekeler to pursue a trade instead of an extension. The standoff between running backs and front offices will undoubtedly be one of the offseason’s big storylines, with Jacobs playing a central role in the discussion.
If Jacobs does not return to Las Vegas, the Raiders could turn to Zamir White. The former fourth-round pick had the opportunity to start at the end of last season, averaging more than 114 yards from scrimmage in four games as the lead back.
Leave a Reply