The Las Vegas Raiders offense is poised for significant changes following the departure of running back Josh Jacobs from the team. Jacobs, who had been a cornerstone of the offense for several years, opted to sign a four-year, $48 million contract with the Green Bay Packers in free agency.
While Jacobs expressed a desire to remain in Las Vegas, and the team was also interested in retaining him, the Packers’ offer proved to be more lucrative. Despite speculation suggesting that Jacobs favored the Packers over the Raiders, sports journalist Vic Tafur of The Athletic refuted these claims, asserting that the decision ultimately boiled down to financial considerations.
In a mailbag column dated March 29, Tafur clarified: “I am trying my best to stop shooting down people’s reports and keep my monster truck in my lane, but nah, that’s not true… The Raiders made what they thought was a fair offer — and it was the second-best offer — but it wasn’t close to the Packers’ offer of $14.8 million guaranteed in Year 1 (and likely $23 million for two years). And that’s OK.”
Tafur emphasized that Jacobs was an exceptional player for the Raiders and had chosen to accept a higher salary to join a playoff-caliber team, especially with his former coach Rich Bisaccia on staff. He added, “The Raiders had a ‘fair’ number they weren’t going to move from, and history shows that is usually wise with running backs.”
While Jacobs may have expressed disappointment with the Raiders’ decision not to re-sign him, it appears that the Packers’ offer significantly outpaced those of other teams.
As hinted by Vic Tafur, Josh Jacobs will reunite with a familiar figure in Green Bay. Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia previously worked alongside Jacobs during their time with the Raiders from 2019 to 2021, including Bisaccia’s tenure as interim head coach in 2021.
Bisaccia’s positive influence may have contributed to the Packers’ strong pursuit of Jacobs, according to head coach Matt LaFleur. “I think Rich definitely spoke highly of him,” LaFleur stated recently, as reported by The Athletic. “I think any time that you have a coach on staff who has experience with a player like that from another team, you’re always interested in hearing what they have to say. He spoke highly of his character, his skills, and his work ethic.”
Jacobs is expected to integrate smoothly with the Packers, and he can finally set aside concerns about his contract for the first time in quite a while.
Will the Las Vegas Raiders Feel the Absence of Josh Jacobs?
Athletes of Josh Jacobs’ caliber are challenging to substitute. It appears that Zamir White will assume the starting running back role for the Raiders next season. Additionally, the team has brought in Alexander Mattison and re-signed Ameer Abdullah.
With White potentially continuing his strong performance from last season, where he filled in for an injured Jacobs and rushed for 397 yards in the final four games, the running back group looks formidable. While White showed promise for the Raiders, it’s worth noting that his success is based on a limited number of games.
If White proves himself capable, the absence of Jacobs may not weigh heavily on Las Vegas’ mind. However, if he encounters difficulties, the team might rue the departure. Nonetheless, considering the hefty $48 million price tag for a running back in today’s NFL, the Raiders should manage this situation adequately.