To date, Josh Jacobs’ NFL profession has considerably mimicked the profession of former Raider and Corridor of Fame operating again Marcus Allen. Three years after breaking Allen’s franchise rookie dashing report, Jacobs led the NFL in dashing (1,653 dashing yards in 2022), a feat Allen additionally achieved throughout his fourth 12 months within the league. Jacobs, whose rookie contract has expired, can observe in Allen’s footsteps by leaving the Raiders early.
Jacobs didn’t take part within the Las Vegas offseason schedule and didn’t report back to minicamp after failing to achieve an settlement with Las Vegas on a brand new contract after the staff positioned him on franchise tag. Since Jacobs has not but signed his franchise label, he can’t be fined for lacking the obligatory components of the low season as a result of he’s technically not below contract. They’d pay him $10.1 million totally assured in 2023.
Speeding the reigning NFL champ, who turned 25 in February, will maintain his personal throughout the Raiders’ coaching camp, which begins July 25 for veterans, ought to he not have a brand new deal earlier than the July 17 4 p.m. ET deadline for franchise-tagged gamers to make agreements about long-term extensions, stated Paloma Villicana of Fox 5 Las Vegas.
“I believe that is the primary 12 months the place I went into the low season feeling nice,” stated Jacobs said Villicana. “Not due to what I’ve achieved, however by way of my physique. I had no scrapes and bruises on the finish of the 12 months, so there was no rehab for the entire low season, simply coaching. I simply really feel good, I really feel explosive.” .”
If made out there, whether or not as a free agent by the Raiders revoking the tag or by way of commerce, Jacobs could be one of the crucial sought-after gamers up for grabs at this level within the low season. Given the present declining financial system, Jacobs needs to be a comparatively reasonably priced participant. Its present anticipated market worth is $51,409,696 over 4 years for an annual common of $12,852,424, in line with Spotrac.
Based mostly on their want for backup and wage cap conditions, listed below are the highest 5 touchdown spots for the league’s reigning dashing champ.
Since Miles Sanders is now a Carolina Panther, Jacobs could be a seamless addition to an Eagles offense that netted 35 factors within the Tremendous Bowl. The defending champion Philadelphia Eagles do not “want” anybody at this stage of the low season, but when he is simply three factors quick within the Tremendous Bowl, normal supervisor Howie Roseman may go all in.
Though he was a Professional Bowl participant final 12 months, Sanders will not be a quantity runner. He solely had two video games final 12 months during which he acquired a minimum of 20 carries. He was largely invisible within the Tremendous Bowl, as he solely gained 16 yards on seven carries. Sanders is sweet, nevertheless it appeared just like the Eagles would have benefited from a extra bodily presence within the backfield. New low season signings D’Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny have proven they’ve damage dangers with increased profession carry volumes. Philly would get a battering ram in Jacobs, who had a minimum of 20 carries in 9 video games final 12 months. Jacobs, who caught 53 passes in 2022, may be a viable choice for Jalen Hurts within the passing sport.
With an NFL excessive cap room of $32 million, the Bears have the cash to deliver Jacobs to the Windy Metropolis. Chicago additionally wants the place after quarterback Justin Fields ran 342 extra yards than the Bears’ second-leading rusher final season. Talking of Fields, the Bears wish to encompass their younger quarterback with extra gifted talent gamers, so the considered Jacobs ending up in Chicago makes quite a lot of sense.
Along with giving an elite operating again, the addition of Jacobs would take a few of the burden off Fields to play together with his ft. Whereas his 2022 season was one of the crucial prolific seasons by a quarterback in NFL historical past by way of operating, Fields paid for it, lacking two video games with an damage. The Bears want to chop again on Fields’ operating, and Jacobs would enable them to.
Miami would want to release vital clearance area, however Jacobs would slot in extraordinarily properly in South Seaside. Whereas their passing sport was deadly final season (when Tua Tagovailoa was wholesome), the Dolphins’ dashing offense was one of many least productive within the league. It’s crucial that Miami Tagovailoa give extra assist so far as the operating sport is anxious.
Miami re-signed its prime two rushers from final season – Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson – however nonetheless tried to improve to the place with a proposal to free agent Dalvin Prepare dinner. The Dolphins may as a substitute flip their consideration to the disgruntled Raiders star so as to add as their bona fide return.
A robust operating sport is a quarterback’s greatest buddy. Simply ask John Elway, who misplaced three Tremendous Bowls earlier than profitable two on the finish of his profession whereas sharing a backfield with Corridor of Fame runner Terrell Davis. The Broncos could be smart to pair their present quarterback, Russell Wilson, with Jacobs to proper the ship in Denver.
The Broncos have already got a gifted operating again in Javonte Williams, however with Williams struggling an damage that restricted him to only 4 video games final 12 months, the Broncos could be smart to enlist extra outdoors assist than simply Samaje Perine on a two-year-old age. $7.5 million deal. Jacobs would definitely excel on Sean Payton’s offense, an offense that (amongst others) Alvin Kamara was good at when Payton was in New Orleans.
The Cardinals want a spark after what has been a nightmarish 2022. They may present that spark within the type of signing Jacobs, who would give quarterback Kyler Murray extra firepower. Arizona has the sources to make this occur, because it at the moment has practically $27 million ($26.7 million) in cap area, the second largest in the complete league, behind solely the Bears.
Jacobs would function the proper complement to James Conner, a two-time Professional Bowler who has had accidents all through his profession. With Murray below middle, Jacobs and Conner within the backfield, and Marquise Brown and Zach Ertz on the inside and outside, the Cardinals would, on paper, possess among the finest offenses within the league.
