Raiders Has Made a Smart Move on Re-Signing RB Josh Jacobs to Replace…
Previous rumors suggested that the Raiders could try to hold onto the standout running back—but only if they could get their way. The organization was not interested in locking down Jacobs to a $14.14MM salary by franchising him for a second consecutive season. With that commitment, Jacobs’ 2023 cap hit would have increased by about $2.5 million, ranking him third at his position in average annual value (after Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara).
It should come as a relief to Jacobs that the Raiders are placing some value on consistency, given the strong class of free agents at the position and the pressure that some free agent running backs will undoubtedly endure. The running back has played his entire career for the team, including a 2022 campaign in which he finished with 12 touchdowns and a league-high 2,053 yards from scrimmage. Following the Raiders’ decision not to pick up Jacobs’ fifth-year option, which occurred during the previous offseason, the player became a free agent.
The team applied the franchise tag to their star, preventing him from ever being able to leave the organization. In order to avoid a holdout, the two parties revised the 2023 deal after failing to reach an agreement on a long-term extension. Before missing the final four games of the season, Jacobs amassed 1,101 yards from scrimmage, yet he was unable to match his 2022 output.
