Josh Jacobs Drops Telling Comments About Raiders Future Amid Rumors
One of the most important decisions the Los Vegas Raiders will have to make this summer is what to do with running back Josh Jacobs. Jacobs missed four games due to injury in 2023 and was only able to rush for 805 yards after leading the NFL in rushing yards the previous season.
The Pro Bowler has no ties to the Raiders and was playing in 2023 under the franchise tag. As of now, the team has not selected a general manager, so it is unclear if Las Vegas would be open to having Jacobs return. He won’t be overly concerned about it in the meanwhile.
Josh Jacobs & Zamir White of the Las Vegas Raiders.
After the Raiders defeated the Denver Broncos in Week 18, Jacobs remarked in the locker room, “At the end of the day, I love this group of guys that we got here.” I adore the city and the projects we’re working on. I’ll take it as luck would have it, but it has undoubtedly been a blessing and an honour.
Jacobs stated that he would like to return, but it’s unclear if the Raiders will make an attempt to get him back.
When asked if he wanted to stick with the Raiders, Jacobs replied, “100%.” “However it transpires, it transpires but 100% of the time, especially with [head coach] Antonio Pierce.”
Although he hasn’t been appointed head coach on a permanent basis just yet, interim coach Antonio Pierce is undoubtedly a contender. It appears that Jacobs will have a better chance of sticking in Las Vegas if he is employed.
Will Las Vegas Raiders Franchise Tag on Josh Jacobs Again?
The general manager is the most crucial hire Josh Jacobs needs to be on the lookout for if he wants to continue playing for Antonio Pierce. A long-term contract for Jacobs was clearly out of the question while Dave Ziegler was the general manager. Coming from the New England Patriots, a franchise that rarely offers running backs long-term contracts, Ziegler has experience in this role.
Although the cost will be more, the Raiders may think about giving Jacobs the franchise tag once more. It would be a full assurance that the team would have to pay him at least $14.16 million. A long-term agreement would probably be more financially feasible. Despite being only 25 years old, Jacobs has established himself as one of the NFL’s best running backs. Jacobs should be brought back, but the franchise tag doesn’t seem realistic at this point. Regardless, the person who becomes general manager of the Raiders should give it serious consideration.
Zamir White Made Case to Be RB1
One factor that might make it more difficult for Josh Jacobs to sign a large contract with the Raiders is the potential rise of Zamir White. In Week 15, he replaced an injured Jacobs from the start and performed admirably.
With 397 rushing yards in four starts, White demonstrated his potential as a solid running back. In 2023, he gained 4.3 yards per rush on average, compared to Jacobs’ 3.5. Given that White is under contract and considerably less expensive than Jacobs, the Raiders might choose to cut Jacobs. Considering how well White performed towards the conclusion of the season, that would make sense.
Although there is no shortage of quality at running back, Jacobs is among the finest in the game. Accepting a fair contract is the only way Jacobs has any chance of staying in Las Vegas.