Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs is getting set to hit free agency, and the Raiders apparently want him back.
However, the Raiders only want to retain Jacobs at the right price and will not be placing a franchise tag on him, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Jacobs’ tag would be worth a tick over $14 million in 2024, which is evidently too costly for Las Vegas’ blood. Given Jacobs’ production this past season, that does not come as much of a surprise.
Injuries limited Jacobs to just 13 games in 2023, and during his time on the field, he rushed for 805 yards and six touchdowns while averaging a meager 3.5 yards per carry. He also logged 37 catches for 296 yards.
It should be noted that the 26-year-old is just one year removed from leading the NFL in rushing, as he racked up 1,653 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground in 2022. He also registered a robust 4.9 yards per attempt and added 53 receptions for 400 yards en route to a Pro Bowl appearance and a First-Team All-Pro selection.
Jacobs, who played his collegiate football at the University of Alabama, was selected by the Raiders with the 24th overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft.
He burst on to the scene during his rookie campaign, recording 1,150 yards and seven scores as a rusher while tallying 4.8 yards per tote. He went on to make his first Pro Bowl the following year after finishing with 1,065 yards and 12 touchdowns, although he averaged just 3.9 yards per carry.
Jacobs then took a step back in 2021, posting 872 yards while reaching the end zone nine times as a rusher.
The Tulsa, Ok. native lays claim to a pedestrian lifetime average of 4.2 yards per attempt, so efficiency has always been an issue for him.
We’ll see what the Raiders decide to do with Josh Jacobs in the coming weeks.
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