Running Back White Has a Chance to Become Great
The Las Vegas Raiders have almost always had a notable running back.
From Clem Daniels to Marcus Allen to Josh Jacobs, the Raiders usually had a formidable running back on which they could depend.
For the last five seasons, the Raiders leaned on Jacobs to carry the load.
However, free agent Jacobs recently signed a deal with the Green Bay Packers after leading the National Football League in rushing in the 2022-23 season and having a down season when he was injured last season.
Running back Zamir White, selected in the 2022 NFL Draft, now has the opportunity of a lifetime with the departure of Jacobs.
Jacobs led the league in rushing that season, accounting for nearly 80 percent of the team's carries. He was on pace for a similar percentage last season before sustaining a quad injury.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White has the opportunity of a lifetime in front of him.
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
This left little room for White to display his value during his first two seasons in the league and he primarily played on special teams during the 2022 season and most of last season until Jacobs was injured.
That allowed White to demonstrate that he could be a starting back for the Silver and Black.
White averaged roughly five yards per carry as the team's starting running back. He rushed for over 100 yards in two of his first four starts at running back, becoming the first running back in Raiders history to do so.
With Jacobs gone, White can show what he can do on a larger scale.
The Raiders have made their fair share of mistakes over the last few seasons, as every team around the NFL has. However, selecting White in the fourth round of the NFL Draft two seasons ago, as Jacobs entered a contract season, might have been one of their most underrated decisions.
White gives the Raiders a starting-caliber running back at a cost-efficient rate. The third-year back will have a chance as the team's starting running back while focused on getting his first significant contract in the NFL. His motivation to prove himself and for a life-changing contract will be positive for him and the Raiders.
In 2022, quarterbacks Derek Carr and Jarrett Stidham had more carries than White, who patiently waited for his opportunity to roll around, and it finally arrived. Now he has the chance to make a name for himself as the next workhorse running back of a franchise with a long history of respectable running backs.
The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently have the No. 13 overall pick.
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