Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs was highly motivated heading into the 2022 season. The team declined the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, which meant that he would become a free agent in 2023. 

Knowing what was ahead, Josh Jacobs was motivated to play at a high level so that he could cash in. That is exactly what he did, as 2022 was a special year for the 2019 first-round pick out of Alabama.

Josh Jacobs ended up leading the league in touches with 393 and total yards with 2,053. His 1,653 rushing yards were also tops in the NFL, while he scored a career-high tying 12 touchdowns. The 400 receiving yards were also a career-high as Josh Jacobs has become a true dual-threat, working hard to improve as a pass catcher and pass blocker.

That level of explosiveness is something that Josh Jacobs exhibited during his rookie season when he averaged 4.8 yards per carry. However, in the following two seasons, his yards per carry average dropped to 3.95. That lack of production and some underwhelming results in the passing game, in addition to a new regime taking over, likely played a part in the Raiders turning down his fifth-year option.

Despite the drop in effectiveness, Josh Jacobs remained a playmaker for the Raiders. He would often create something out of nothing behind an underwhelming offensive line. Just how impressive was his individual performance? Josh Jacobs was the most elusive player in the NFL, recording 198 missed tackles since 2020 according to PFF.

Josh Jacobs has never been regarded as a shifty running back, known more for his power than finesse. But, he had a penchant for making defenders miss, evidenced by his being atop that statistic at PFF.

Josh Jacobs will be in the fold in Las Vegas for at least one more season, as they placed the franchise tag on him this offseason. If he puts together another campaign as productive as what he accomplished in 2022, he will cash in once again in 2023 in what is shaping up to be another loaded free agent running back class.