After leading the league in rushing, the Las Vegas Raiders used the franchise tag to keep Josh Jacobs from hitting the open market. The running back has yet to sign the tag, and the two sides failed to reach a long-term agreement and reportedly weren’t even close to a deal. Now stuck in something of a stalemate, Pro Football Talk‘s Mike Florio believes that the Raiders could rescind the franchise tag and allow Jacobs to hit free agency.
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NFL Insider: Raiders Could Rescind Franchise Tag For Josh Jacobs
Florio’s Explanation
The running back market is in shambles right now, as teams are slowly realizing that the position just isn’t that important. The players, naturally, are rebelling against this, as playing the position requires sacrificing your body on every single play. It truly is becoming a thankless position, so it makes sense that Jacobs doesn’t want to sign a one-year deal and risk injury while risking the chances of a long-term deal. NFL policy forbids players that receive the franchise tag from signing long-term deals after a certain point, which means if Jacobs plays for the Raiders this year, he’ll have to do it on the franchise tag.
The Raiders, meanwhile, also have an incentive to let Josh Jacobs hit the open market. Even though he hasn’t signed the franchise tag, from a financial standpoint, Las Vegas is operating as if Jacobs is on the payroll. This is a massive year for Josh McDaniels, as another losing season will likely cost the head coach his job. Freeing up the $10.1 million allotted to Jacobs could allow the Raiders to sign a valuable pass rusher like Yannick Ngakoue and improve a defense that needs help at just about every position.
For what it’s worth, Florio adds that McDaniels historically prefers a committee approach to the running back position. During McDaniels’ tenure with the Patriots, New England was notorious for using multiple running backs on any given game and switching up playing time based on matchups. So, even without Josh Jacobs, McDaniels should have no trouble getting the most out of the Raiders backfield.
Potential Josh Jacobs Landing Spots
If Josh Jacobs hits free agency, he will easily be the best running back on the market. While he probably won’t receive the massive paycheck he desires, he should easily top the four-year, $25.4 million contract Miles Sanders signed back in March. So, in the off chance this turns into a bidding war, the Chicago Bears have to be considered the favorite. The team loves running the ball but lacks a true leader in the clubhouse. Khalil Herbert, D’Onta Foreman, and rookie Roschon Johnson are all better in small doses, and Jacobs would be an ideal complement to dual-threat quarterback Justin Fields.
2022 Josh Jacobs pic.twitter.com/v33p3rlNtz
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) July 17, 2023
If the Raiders rescind the franchise tag after the NFL inevitably suspends Alvin Kamara, then Jacobs could find a home with the New Orleans Saints. Head coach Dennis Allen is fighting for his job in 2023 and probably won’t mind overspending for a starting running back. Of course, Jacobs and starting quarterback Derek Carr have a long track record together from their time in the desert, and that familiarity should only increase the odds of this pairing.
If Josh Jacobs is out for revenge, then the Kansas City Chiefs are a natural destination. While the Chiefs love to throw the ball, Jacobs is a dangerous receiver that would immediately be a three-down threat in this offense. While Kansas City currently doesn’t have too much cap space, they should be able to afford Jacobs once they extend Chris Jones.
Last but certainly not least are the teams currently in contention for Dalvin Cook. As of this posting, the New England Patriots, New York Jets, and Miami Dolphins are the frontrunners for Cook’s services. Obviously, Cook can only sign with one of these teams, so whichever two teams don’t get him will likely be all-in on Jacobs.
Main Photo: Gary A. Vasquez – USA Today Sports
