A former Green Bay Packers star wide receiver sent the Las Vegas Raiders a serious message about their upcoming season. Reports came out this week about the uncertainty of Josh Jacobs showing up to training camp or games in the regular season over frustrations pertaining to his contract.
The Raiders have opted to franchise tag the league’s leading rusher for the 2022 season. Jacobs has not signed the tag and wants a better deal in place before he shows up to training camp. The Raiders have until July 17 to reach an agreement, or Jacobs must either sign the tag or face financial penalties when the regular season starts.
Former Green Bay Packers WR issues Las Vegas Raiders warning
Former Packers wide receiver James Jones talked about Jacobs’ predicament during Jones’ appearance on The Carson Show Wednesday. Jones said Jacobs had earned his bag, and the franchise tag is unfair to the running back. Jones said the Raiders are risking their season by not paying Jacobs:
“Josh Jacobs has earned the right to get paid. Pay my guy his money, right, so he can get in that building. You guys need Josh Jacobs in that building as a leader, as a guy on that offense, you need Josh Jacobs in the building. He was clearly the best player on the offensive side of the ball last year, arguably the best running back in the game.
“We all know how running backs’ mindsets are right now. Their careers are not that long, and their money is not that long, right? They are trying to get everything they can when they have the upper hand … They have to find a way to get Josh in that building if they want to have an opportunity to get to the playoffs and win some football games.”
“The Las Vegas Raiders have to find a way to get Josh Jacobs in that building if they want to have an opportunity to get to the playoffs and win some football games.”
— @89JonesNTAF pic.twitter.com/2P4rQWrt0m
— The Carton Show (@TheCartonShow) June 28, 2023
Josh Jacobs has a rough RB market
Running backs have it bad with the incentives front offices must face in the market right now. Free agent running back Melvin Gordon recently talked about how the NFL doesn’t value the position. Jacobs, Saquon Barkley, and Tony Pollard are dealing with a situation where front offices are taking advantage of running backs. If running backs weren’t of any value, teams would be using their franchise tag on other positions.
Jacobs has proved he’s a talented player, and the Raiders are asking him to risk future earnings on a one-year deal that’s much less than what he’d get on the open market. But as Jones highlighted Wednesday, a lack of a long-term deal could backfire on the Raiders’ postseason hopes this year.
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