Josh Jacobs, a running back, will not be eligible to test free agency if the Las Vegas Raiders decide against using the franchise tag on him in the near future. This might imply that he will be free to explore his options in free agency. The organization doesn’t seem to be planning to offer him a contract before he becomes a free agent.
While there are many teams in need of a running back, Jacobs must be among the best. At just 26, he led the NFL in 2022 with 1,652 rushing yards. Additionally, he has not had to cope with any severe injury problems. Although there is a chance the Raiders will re-sign Jacobs, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox projects the player to sign a three-year, $30 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys.
“Jacobs might be interested in accepting an offer from a team other than the Raiders, such as the Dallas Cowboys. Pollard did not produce the right results for Dallas in 2023, and Jacobs is precisely the kind of dual-threat, every-down playmaker that the Cowboys possessed at Ezekiel Elliott’s peak, according to Knox’s essay from February 28.
Dallas has ways to swiftly create cap space even with a $3.2 million cap shortfall. Releasing Michael Gallup with a post-June 1 designation would save up $9.5 million in cap space, but extensions for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb might reduce their 2024 totals. Zamir White probably impressed the Raiders sufficiently by the end of 2023 that they decided not to spend on Jacobs.
The Cowboys need a running back because Tony Pollard is a free agent. The Dallas offence would get a lot of juice with Jacobs. In the event that the Raiders choose not to re-sign the running back, this is a very real possibility.
Jacobs and Josh are the top RBs Available in Free Agency
This offseason, a number of highly regarded running backs, including Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, and others, will become free agents. Although there are many alternatives available for teams in need of a running back, it appears that two stand out above the others.
In a March 5 X article, Dianna Russini of The Athletic stated that Barkley and Jacobs are without a doubt the best two choices available in free agency.
The Raiders will have competition if they choose to re-sign Jacobs because it sounds like other teams are interested in him.
The Las Vegas Raiders Would Like to Use Several Backs
The Raiders’ intentions at running back are a major factor in why they might decide not to bring Josh Jacobs back. Tom Telesco, the general manager, has stated that he would rather see the team use a variety of running backs rather than relying too much on just one.
During his news conference on February 27, Telesco stated, “The way we’re going to play, and the way a lot of teams play, is you need more than one back.” “I don’t really see anything akin to a lead-back. It is necessary for you to have multiple. You must own two; you must possess three. Each of them plays a distinct role in the club. It’s difficult to blame the entire game’s mechanics on a single player.
If the organization intends to reduce Jacob’s workload, it makes no sense to spend a lot of money on him, yet he is talented enough to change their mind.
