The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to use their franchise tag on Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs. Despite previously declining his fifth-year option, the Raiders reportedly see Jacobs as the future of their franchise.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Raiders will continue negotiating a long-term deal with Jacobs, but the franchise tag ensures he remains in Las Vegas for 2023, regardless of the outcome of those talks.
The Raiders drafted Josh Jacobs in the first round of the 2019 draft, and the Alabama product went on to make an immediate impact. He delivered consecutive 1,000+ rushing yards seasons in his first two years in NFL while becoming a Pro Bowler.
The 2021 campaign turned out to be a disappointment for Jacobs as he struggled with consistency and finished the campaign with only 872 rushing yards. This led the front office not to pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie deal, something that many considered to be a smart move at the time.
The lack of faith by the Raiders just gave Jacobs more motivation ahead of 2022, with the 25-year-old delivering his best season as a pro. Jacobs played all 17 games, rushing for a league-leading 1,653 yards while scoring 12 touchdowns. He also added a career-high 400 yards receiving.
