ESPN NFL Nation reporter Gutierrez predicts the Raiders to franchise tag Josh Jacobs
In just the last five years, the Las Vegas Raiders have relocated cities, hired and fired head coaches, changed starting quarterbacks and faced loads of off-the-field turmoil. However, the one consistent piece during all of this change has been former Alabama running back Josh Jacobs. Although the Raiders and Jacobs’s relationship has been rocky, he has been the lone bright spot on a team that hasn’t won a Playoff game since 2002.
The Raiders declined to pick up Jacobs’s fifth-year option back in April of 2022, so in the off-season of 2023, they had to franchise tag him to prevent him from hitting the free agency market. Now, ESPN NFL Nation reporter Paul Gutierrez is reporting that he thinks Jacobs is in line to receive the tag again this off-season.
Gutierrez says of the situation, “The Raiders went down this road last season by tagging the reigning All-Pro, and he responded by not signing his tag and sitting out Las Vegas’ entire offseason program, training camp and the preseason before agreeing to a one-year deal worth $11.791 million, $1.7 million more than the original tender. Jacobs had the worst season of his career (805 rushing yards, 3.5 yards per carry, 6 TDs, 13 games), so the Raiders might not have to use the estimated $12.4 million tag on him and could probably get him back on a cheaper deal. Especially since he said he would be all-in if the Raiders made Antonio Pierce the head coach, which they did. “
As a fan of Jacobs, I would definitely like to see him stay in Las Vegas because it is a place where he was the NFL rushing champion in 2022 and has found a ton of success. But, I also know that running backs don’t last long in this league so hopefully he can sign a long-term deal and secure generational wealth even if he has to leave Vegas.
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