The Las Vegas Raiders had a pretty disastrous season, as what was expected to be a run at the Super Bowl returned into a 6-11 finish amidst multiple blown leads and close losses.
However, there was one definite bright spot.
Running back Josh Jacobs blossomed big-time, as he logged an NFL-high 1,653 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns while earning a trip to the Pro Bowl and an All-Pro first-team nod.
He will be a free agent this offseason, but the good news is that the Raiders plan to use their franchise tag on him in order to keep him in the fold for another season.
The #Raiders plan to place the franchise tag on star RB Josh Jacobs if the sides don’t reach a deal by Tuesday’s deadline, per sources.
The NFL’s leading rusher last season, Jacobs is viewed as a part of the future in Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/B91YRDnZE3
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 3, 2023
Interestingly, fans aren’t happy with the news.
Some wondered why Las Vegas didn’t simply pick up the fifth year of his contract for the 2023 season, which would’ve bought it another year to negotiate with him while he was under contract.
Why didn’t they just pick up his 5th year option then?
— eazy_duzit (@FWMoy926_41) March 3, 2023
Lol. Picking up his fifth year option would have been much better for them.
— Unimpressed (@gpbrownsfan) March 3, 2023
Some fans don’t want the Raiders to give him a lucrative deal.
He’s gonna want a deal. And if Vegas wants to waste big cap space on a running back: by all means.
— Chief Correspondent (@TenHag2TheMoon) March 3, 2023
This fan feels that perhaps Jacobs’ brilliant 2022 season was an aberration.
I hope we don’t extend him. Before last szn’s breakout, he was injury prone & regressing. I’d rather just pay him a lot for 1 year & then re-assess next off-szn. RB isn’t that valuable a position in today’s game. And even moreso b/c only Derrick Henry has lived up to his extension
— May (@YouDontKnowISH_) March 3, 2023
Conventional wisdom around the league these days is that running backs are simply not that valuable because the game has become more pass-heavy over the last 10-20 years, not to mention the fact that running backs tend to fall off a cliff around age 30 , if not earlier.
Jacobs just turned 25, so he should have at least a few more productive years if he’s able to avoid any significant injuries.
NEXT:
The Raiders Reportedly Have A Plan In Place For Josh Jacobs
