26 August 2023 , 18:26
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The Las Vegas Raiders have received a huge boost ahead of the season with All-Pro running back Josh Jacobs agreeing to a new contract.
Jacobs has signed a similar deal to Saquon Barkley with the New York Giants, who had also held out before agreeing a new one-year contract. Jacobs will make £9.5million ($12m) this year.
Like Barkley, Jacobs was reluctantly signed to a franchise tag earlier this offseason with his team not wanting to lose him, but also not being able to agree on a long-term deal.
Jacobs will become a free agent once again next season, but will return to the Raiders for the upcoming year on a reasonably high contract for the running back position.
After being displeased with the team for not not meeting his contractual demands and had held out so far in training camp after making his feelings clear on not wanting to be franchise tagged. But multiple reports have confirmed that he is now pleased with his one-year deal, where he can earn £175,000 more in incentives.
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Jacobs was not subject to any fines for missing practice, as he did not sign his franchise tag and had not officially been a member of the team - needing to sign to be active for the season.
The running back was open about his displeasure with the running back market this season, with a number of players at the position feeling disgruntled.
ESPN reported that Jacobs was part of a Zoom call featuring his fellow running backs from across the NFL. Cleveland Browns ’ Nick Chubb, San Francisco 49ers Christian McCaffrey, Tennessee Titans ’ Derrick Henry and New York Giants ’ Saquon Barkley all attended the call to discuss what they needed to do to improve their situation.
Jacobs will now return to the team for game oneJacobs had been coming off the back of an incredible season, leading the NFL in 2022 for the most rushing yards with 1,653 yards, along with 12 touchdowns on 340 carries.
The Raiders are well aware of how important Jacobs is to their success, with superstar receiver Davante Adams hoping for a resolution.
He told reporters: "If we really want to have a shot at winning the Super Bowl and having all the elite aspirations that we do, we're gonna need that guy. So I'm praying that we can still figure something out, but also understanding where Josh is coming from and trying to coach him through it at the same time.
"I've been talking to him, we've been in his ear a little bit just trying to coach him through this process. I've been through it a couple times myself and I know what it's like to go back and forth about whether or not you feel appreciated."