Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs has yet to sign his franchise tag, and it doesn’t look like that will change any time soon. If this holdout continues into September, there is a chance that the Raiders rescind the tag and allow Jacobs to hit unrestricted free agency. If that happens, then Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk believes that the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos will be two of the top suitors for the running back’s services.
Florio: Chiefs, Broncos The Favorites For Josh Jacobs
The Report
Florio’s article outlines five possibilities for how the Josh Jacobs situation resolves itself. The fifth option, which Florio says “could still happen” is that “the Raiders rescind the franchise tender and [Jacobs] becomes a free agent.” In that universe, Vegas essentially decides that they’re better off keeping the $10.1 million to themselves and effectively cut their losses with Jacobs, allowing him to find a new home without receiving anything in exchange.
The NFL insider notes that Jacobs is aware of this possibility and is “unconcerned” about it. Per Florio, the running back would happily take a look at the open market and try to find a team that help him win a Super Bowl and re-establish his value.
Obviously, the Kansas City Chiefs are the top choice here, as they are a perfect match of player and team. The reigning Super Bowl champions have the best coach-quarterback combination in football by a wide margin, and the team has a glaring need at running back. Add in the added motivation of getting to face the Raiders twice, and it’s easy to see why this fit makes sense.
The Broncos, however, aren’t quite as obvious a fit. While the defense is great, Russell Wilson had a terrible 2022, and Sean Payton might not be able to fix the former Super Bowl champion. Even if Wilson returns to form, the Broncos already have a promising running back in Javonte Williams, and it’s hard to envision a world where they leapfrog the Kansas City Chiefs or Los Angeles Chargers in the division.
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Would the Raiders Actually Let Josh Jacobs Go?
At this point in time, it’s pretty clear that the Las Vegas Raiders and Josh Jacobs have some bad blood. It’s already too late to agree to a multi-year deal, so if Jacobs remains in Vegas, they’ll be in this exact same situation at this point next year.
The Raiders aren’t exactly flush with cash, as Mark Davis is widely considered to be one of the “poorer” owners in the league (by NFL standards, anyway). There are rumors that the only reason Josh McDaniels is still the head coach Davis simply didn’t have the money to fire him, so saving $10.1 million on Jacobs could be tempting.
However, while ownership might want to part ways with Josh Jacobs, it’s hard to imagine a world where Josh McDaniels or General Manager Dave Ziegler allow that to happen. Both men are fighting for their jobs, and if they believe Jacobs can help them remain employed, they’ll eventually give in to his demands. Right now, look for Jacobs to hold out into the second or third week of the season before the Raiders give him a one-year raise similar to what Saquon Barkley got.
Main Photo: Gary A. Vasquez – USA Today Sports
