-
Follow Us
On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
The Las Vegas Raiders have reloaded the roster after free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft, but a large part of their offense remains unsettled.
Earlier in the offseason, the Raiders decided to place the franchise tag on star running back Josh Jacobs because they previously declined the fifth year of his rookie contract. Jacobs had the best year of his career in 2022, rushing for 1,652 yards and 12 touchdowns. He made his First-Team All-Pro for his efforts and was named to the 2023 Pro Bowl roster, and now is in line for a massive payday.
Unfortunately for Las Vegas, Jacobs has yet to sign the franchise tender and appears steadfast in holding out until his contract situation is sorted out. Jacobs is slated to miss OTAs on Monday because he hasn’t signed, a setback for the Raiders, who should have their core pieces in attendance in order to start building toward the 2023 season.
Amidst the stand-off with his team, Jacobs tweeted out another cryptic message via his Twitter account:
Sometimes it’s not about you. We gotta do it for the ones after us
— Josh Jacobs (@iAM_JoshJacobs) June 10, 2023
It sounds like Jacobs feels like he is holding out not just for him but for future star running backs who deserve to make more money. Like Jacobs, Tony Pollard and Saquon Barkley were also offered the franchise tag and have had their own situations play out with their respective teams over contracts.
In the NFL, paying running backs lucrative second deals typically doesn’t happen unless they’re clearly the best at their position. Running backs typically don’t have long careers and are the most replaceable position, so it makes sense why a team wouldn’t want to invest too much money when there are other skill positions to address.
Unless something develops in the coming weeks, it’s fair to assume that Jacobs and the Raiders will continue their staring contest. While there’s technically still time to get a deal done before the new season, this prolonged stretch makes it feel likely that the two sides are heading toward a divorce.
Josh McDaniels not concerned with Josh Jacobs missing mandatory minicamp
While fans might have to start embracing the possibility that Jacobs won’t be a Raider when the new season kicks off, Josh McDaniels has yet to worry about losing his starting running back. In fact, McDaniels emphasized that he’s not concerned about Jacobs missing the upcoming mandatory minicamp and went on to say that he loves him both as a player and a person.
More must-reads:
- AFC's worst offseason moves: Raiders, Ravens will regret QB calls
- An optimist's guide to the 2024 Washington Commanders
- The 'Most receiving yards in a season' quiz
Breaking News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
