AUGUST 24: The Dolphins briefly inquired on Jacobs’ availability, as first reported by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, but those talks went nowhere with the Raiders confident he will play in Vegas in 2023. Subsequent reports have confirmed the Dolphins’ passing interest in Jacobs, including NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe. The latter notes that Miami is interested in a high-profile RB trade, “but only up to a certain price” (Twitter link). Talks between the Colts and Dolphins regarding Taylor are ongoing.
AUGUST 23: As the Colts have followed the Chargers’ lead in letting a standout running back find a trade partner, the Raiders continue to wait on their All-Pro back’s return. They are taking a different approach compared to the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor path.
The Raiders are not looking at tag-and-trade scenarios involving Josh Jacobs, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Then again, moving Jacobs’ $10.1MM tag salary would not be an easy task for the Raiders. With less mileage on his odometer, the 2021 rushing champion is also a more appealing trade target than last year’s leader. But it remains to be seen if a team will make an offer for Taylor that will prompt Indianapolis to consider a move. The Colts’ ask is high.
Beginning training camp in late July, the Raiders have been without Jacobs for nearly a month. Jacobs is not obligated to attend camp, having not signed his franchise tender. The team can add sweeteners to entice Jacobs to return on time, as the Giants did — via a high-seven-figure incentive package, albeit featuring escalators classified as not likely to be earned — to bring Saquon Barkley back into the fold. Earlier this month, however, a report suggested the Raiders had not held talks with Jacobs about elevating his 2023 compensation.
Yannick Ngakoue agreed to reduce his tag salary — from $17.8MM to $13MM — to facilitate a trade from Jacksonville to Minnesota in 2020, but envisioning Jacobs making such a concession to leave Las Vegas is highly unlikely. (The Raiders would also need to be motivated to move him, which it appears they are not.) Even as Jacobs’ $10.1MM salary makes him less valuable in a trade, Ngakoue could count on future contracts to balance out the trim he accepted. The developments at running back this year offer Jacobs no such assurances beyond 2023.
Jacobs, 25, totaled an NFL-high 2,053 scrimmage yards last season. The 2019 first-rounder also led the NFL with 393 touches, providing a potential cause for concern regarding his 2023 form. This adds to the reasons why Jacobs skipping regular-season games (and $561K game checks) is considered unlikely. The Alabama alum does not figure to have many more chances at a notable payday, making this $10.1MM salary rather important.
Jacobs reporting just before Week 1 would follow Le’Veon Bell‘s 2017 path. Preserving his body for a free agency push — the nuclear option Bell executed upon being tagged again in 2018 — is extraordinarily unlikely due to the financial sacrifice and the state of the RB market. While Bell had the Jets waiting to pay him in 2019, it cannot be assumed such a payment — on what looks like a crowded 2024 market — would await Jacobs. The Raiders can also merely re-tag their RB1 for barely $12MM in 2024.
With Jacobs not showing up for camp, the Raiders signed Damien Williams. But do not roster anyone particularly close to Jacobs’ level, with 2022 fourth-rounder Zamir White slotted as Vegas’ top backup. The team could rescind Jacobs’ tag, sending him to free agency. But McDaniels may see his seat warm up this season. Having Jacobs at Jimmy Garoppolo‘s disposal would help the second-year Raiders HC’s cause. But the team continues to wait.
Trade him for Jonathan Taylor
With Kamara, Henry, and McCaffrey all making north of $15M a year, the Raiders are really treating him like trash. Good for Jacobs for holding out.
What would trading him for Taylor accomplish?
“Not looking to trade” doesn’t mean “hanging up the phone if someone calls”. And they will.
That would relieve them of the opportunity to bungle his contract status any further…
Whatever team would trade for Jacobs wouldn’t be able to sign him until the season’s end. Shelling out $10.1 million for the tag and not getting a chance to work out a deal is pretty limiting. I’m not sure who asked the Raiders if they were trying to trade Jacobs, but if they leaked this out just on their own, I’m not sure why they thought that was necessary.
This is from the same GM & HC that ran Josh in the preseason last year to ‘showcase’ him for a trade. Guess Josh isn’t a mastermind w/o a HoF QB? They are inept duo.
Mark Davis: “We need to trade Jacobs so we can get the draft capital necessary to draft another Henry Ruggs”.
The Raiders management is an absolute dumpster fire! What a joke of a franchise!
Offense is a perfect fit for him. He should get in camp and show out in the offense because he looked borderline ordinary before he played in this offense. The Raiders would be less inclined to break up the nucleus of a top flight offense where he’s the bellcow back.
PAY THE MAN
dolphins desperate for RB yet were unwilling to pay-up for Dalvin Cook.
Weird.