Latest on Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders Impasse
HENDERSON, Nev.--The level of consternation among the Las Vegas Raiders fans (Raider Nation) is rising with each passing day as they await the eventual outcome of the Josh Jacobs contract situation.
But it doesn't have to be.
We told you that the Las Vegas Raiders would apply the franchise tag to Josh Jacobs for weeks before it happened.
It did.
We told you just after the tag was applied when there was rampant, and frankly, wild speculation that Jacobs didn't want to be a Raider, and that the Raiders didn't want him, that both parties desired to stay together and work out a long-term deal.
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That hasn't changed.
We are now in what many in the National Football League media call the "Dark days of the offseason," because of that, wild speculative writing and pontificating takes place as people try to generate content.
We are Raiders Today, don't participate in that. Sure, there is much to discuss, but it isn't wild clickbait foolishness.
Does Josh Jacobs want a long-term deal? Yes.
Are the Las Vegas Raiders interested in signing Josh Jacobs to a long-term deal?
Yes, they are.
The issue remains, and we have said this for weeks, what does a long-term deal look like?
In today's NFL, running backs don't want to be told this, but there isn't a market for long-term guaranteed players.
As one NFL general manager told me for this article: "The sad reality for a lot of running backs, most of running backs, is that your most extended deal is probably your first deal if you are a first-round selection."
No one is saying that the common era running back isn't necessary; they are saying that people have shown you can select a running back and replace him rather quickly in today's National Football League.
We have told you for weeks that Josh Jacobs might sit out training camp. There is no angst inside the Raiders about that because he is a consummate professional, and when he does show up, he will be ready.
Conversely, Jacobs isn't likely to say no to the over $10 million he could cash for the 2023 season. Add to it by playing under the 2023 franchise tag, he auditions for other teams, including the Raiders.
The 2022 season was Jacobs's best, and many do not believe it was a coincidence that it was a contract year. In 2023, minus a long-term deal, it would be the same, and no one in Raider Nation would complain about another Josh Jacobs contract campaign.
General Manager Dave Ziegler, Coach Josh McDaniels and Josh Jacobs have no personality issues. They generally like and respect each other, and none are clamoring for a divorce. Despite no deal, this is not an area that Raider Nation needs to be fearful of.
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