Saquon Barkley‘s Giants negotiations brought a run of term updates, with the sides’ back-and-forth leading to a narrowing gap but no extension. Josh Jacobs‘ Raiders talks did not feature numbers ahead of the deadline, but at least one has emerged in the days since.
The Raiders are believed to have offered Jacobs a deal worth $12MM per year, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com said during a Rich Eisen Show appearance (video link). Conflicting reports have circulated regarding how close the Raiders and Jacobs were on a deal, with one indicating this Raiders regime was not especially keen on making a higher-end running back extension part of their roster blueprint. This report suggests the parties appeared to be near the same page.
As Jacobs’ less public negotiations played out, Garafolo adds he and Barkley were in communication during the final hours before the July 17 extension deadline. Barkley had seen the Giants slash their AAV offer as their guarantees climbed to the $22MM level. It is not known where the Raiders were, guarantee-wise, but Garafolo adds Barkley likely would have accepted the offer the Raiders made to Jacobs had the Giants presented those terms to him.
A $12MM-per-year pact would have put Jacobs in the dwindling upper class of RB contracts. That group has absorbed a number of blows this offseason. The Cowboys cut Ezekiel Elliott, and the Vikings moved on from Dalvin Cook. Two other $12MM-per-year backs — Aaron Jones and Joe Mixon — agreed to pay cuts. The only players left with unchanged deals in this salary neighborhood are Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara, Derrick Henry and Nick Chubb. With the Giants and Raiders not going into the CMC-Kamara neighborhood, each proposed deals in line with the Henry ($12.5MM per year) and Chubb ($12.2MM AAV) numbers.
The Giants provided a small incentive package for Barkley, preventing a lengthy absence that could have stretched into September. Jacobs, 25, is the only tagged back staying away from his team. The Raiders cannot fine Jacobs, since he has not signed his $10.1MM franchise tender. They can rescind the tag, a scenario that would make the reigning rushing champ a free agent. That should not be considered likely, at this point, but the fifth-year back is staying away as Las Vegas’ camp begins.
Jacobs has made references to standing up for the running back position as a whole, and considering the discussions among NFL backs in recent days, it is interesting he and Barkley were communicating about their respective negotiations. Barkley was best positioned to make a Le’Veon Bell-like stand by withholding services into the regular season, due to his $38MM-plus in career earnings and the Giants not having a No. 1 wide receiver-type presence. Jacobs has earned just more than $11MM during his career. Passing on a $10.1MM payment is not especially realistic, given the diminished earning power this period’s backs possess.
‘..The Raiders are believed to have offered Jacobs a deal worth $12MM per year…with one indicating this Raiders regime was not especially keen on making a higher-end running back extension part of their roster blueprint…’
Then why offer a $2m raise over the tag price?
By declining Jacobs’ fifth year option and then doing nothing to counter the rumors that they did not want him (or alternatively by feeding those rumors through their actions), the Raiders have added to this problem themselves-especially after Jacobs had a career year. I doubt that Jacobs has any goodwill towards the team to inspire him to help them out without getting what he wants, rightfully or wrongfully.
Yep!
$12M per year but not guaranteed.
Could be something like 4/$48M with $20M guaranteed.
So not a true $12M per year deal.
I find this premise questionable even with some of the goofy ‘money’ deals done by this club.
My expectations are they’ll run him into the ground then see if he’s still top level and extend in ‘24 when they’ve a bit more cap space.
They should have just given him $15m for 1 year and told him they would pay him more after the season if he did well, and they had cap room.
If Josh Jacobs was a QB, at $12 million a year… He would be Bryce Young. The only FA Tender lower than a RB is a ST player…
I believe this is the issue……..