There has been no news recently when it comes to the situation between the Las Vegas Raiders and star running back Josh Jacobs. July 17th is when the deadline for a long-term deal passed and the Raiders opened up training camp the following week. There hasn’t been any kind of update, as Josh Jacobs remains away from the team.
In reality, there isn’t much that can be done. The sides can no longer negotiate a long-term deal and Josh Jacobs didn’t sign the franchise tender yet, so he isn’t required to be at training camp. As shared by Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk, it’s mostly a wait-and-see game right now.
“The options are limited at this point: (1) Jacobs accepts $10.1 million for one season; (2) Jacobs and the Raiders work out an enhanced deal, with more money and/or a promise that he won’t be tagged in 2024; (3) Jacobs skips all or part of the regular season; (4) the Raiders trade Jacobs and his one-year deal; or (5) the Raiders rescind the franchise tender and he becomes a free agent.”
Accepting the $10.1 million tender is what Tony Pollard did with the Dallas Cowboys. An enhanced deal is what Saquon Barkley got from the New York Giants as incentives could bring his earnings up to $11 million, but he wasn’t promised to not be tagged in 2024.
Right now, the third option seems likeliest for Josh Jacobs. Rumors swirled that he would hold out and that is where we are at currently. Given the status of the running back market, a trade seems unlikely.
Using the fifth option as leverage is something that the Raiders could try and coax Josh Jacobs into accepting the tender. However, he is aware of that possibility and remains unphased. He knows the $10.1 million won’t be available to him as a free agent, but there is a plan in place.
According to Florio, Josh Jacobs would look for the best deal with a contending team. Atop that list, the Raiders’ AFC West rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs.
“Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Chiefs and Broncos are among the teams interested in Jacobs. And while the Broncos could be a considerable way from contender status, they’d be an option at the right price.”
Money isn’t what is driving Josh Jacobs at this point. It is what he feels was disrespect from the Raiders for declining his fifth-year option last year and then not presenting him with a strong offer this year.
If the opportunity to stick it to Las Vegas arose, it is one that the 2019 first-round pick would jump at. Having to stop Josh Jacobs twice a season instead of having him on their side would be a worst-case scenario.
