MARCH 6: The Raiders have used the tag on Jacobs, per multiple reports. That will make him its third recipient this season, along with Daron Payne and Evan Engram. This marks the first time in 11 years that the Raiders have used the tag (safety Tyvon Branch being the latest example), and will extend the negotiating window for the two sides, as Jacobs looks to parlay his career-year into a top-end deal.
MARCH 3: The NFL’s leading rusher in 2022 was near the top of the projected running back free agent class of 2023. He will not, as it turns out, be able to test the open market, however. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports that the Raiders will place the franchise tag on Josh Jacobs in the absence of a long-term deal being agreed upon (Twitter link).
The news comes as little surprise, given the value Jacobs demonstrated this past season. The former first-rounder racked up 1,653 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground, posting career-highs in carries and yards per rush. 400 yards added in the passing game helped earn him a second Pro Bowl nod and a first ever All-Pro honor, and boost his free agent value considerably. 
The Raiders declined Jacobs’ fifth-year option, which led to his contract status coming to this point in 2023. The running back tag for this season checks in at $10.1MM, a figure which would nearly double Jacobs’ career earnings to date. It would also allow him to remain with the Raiders for at least one more season, something he has expressed a desire to do. Like all other players, though, he has openly lamented the possibility of playing on the one-year tag in lieu of a multi-year contract.
Raiders coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler have stated a willingness to retain Jacobs, 25, despite their decision last offseason to decline his fifth-year option. That could still come in the form of a long-term deal being finalized before the March 7 tag deadline; Jacobs said at the Pro Bowl that talks on a new contract were expected to start. Progress on that front will be worth watching closely in the coming days, as the running back market will likely get thinned out.
The franchise tag is the expected outcome in the case of the Cowboys and Tony Pollard, and a distinct possibility for the Giants and Saquon Barkley. Jacobs being taken off the market would help the free agent stock for the pair of NFC East rushers, but all three RBs being tagged would have a ripple effect on free agency. Miles Sanders and David Montgomery could find themselves as the top players at the position due for a second contract, though a number of veterans – including Leonard Fournette – are set to hit the market as well.
Even if the tag ends up being used on Jacobs (which would extend the negotiating window between he and the Raiders into mid-July), Vegas would still find themselves with more financial flexibility than most other teams. The Raiders currently has more than $48MM in cap space, and a Jacobs tag would not cut too deeply into that figure. Of course, a quarterback addition of some kind would eat into the team’s available funds, though a veteran acquisition may not be in the cards this offseason. In any case, Jacobs will remain in the Silver and Black for at least one more year.
Can a Raiders fan explain to me why they declined his fifth year option in the first place? Was there an underlying reason or was it just business as usual (ie, pure incompetence) for the Raiders?
Because he hadn’t played so well or enough in his first three years to convince a new regime that it was worth guaranteeing him top ~8 running back money two years in the future. They have holes at more valuable and harder to fill positions. Franchising costs what, a million more than the option would have? So it’s not like it’s a huge deal that they didn’t predict he’d suddenly have a career year.
Good points, but he had 3,100 yards and 28 TDs his first three years. Throw in another 100 receptions for 750 yards. Averaged nearly 1,300 yards from scrimmage. Seems plenty good to me. Fifth year option was around $8 million, now it’ll cost $10 million.
Agreed. No reason he shouldn’t have been worth a 5th year.
Good, but not spectacular, and big money commitments to running backs are dicey ideas. McDaniels’ last year in New England, his offense was eighth in rushing, mostly from a third rounder and a fourth rounder making a combined $2 million. Given the options available at the position this off-season, I doubt I would want to pay any running back right figures.
Mainly because he wasn’t the new regime’s guy and they never paid a rb. They always had success with their rb by committee also. Jacobs was hurt a lot year 2 and 3 so it wasn’t very surprising it not getting picked up.
The new Raiders regime decided to deny the fifth year option on the three players whom were eligible, DE Clelin Ferrell, RB Josh Jacobs, and DB Johnathan Abram…
In today’s NFL the francize tag is the first step in a nasty divorce.
Kareem Hunt low key will be the best FA RB addition this season for whoever.
dude got a 7.7 mil signing bonus. career earnings of 12 mil.
The franchise tag dilemma – some players are motivated to repeat their career year, while others just mope all year and give it a half effort. Wonder which will apply to Jacobs…