The Las Vegas Raiders failed to sign running back Josh Jacobs to a contract extension before the franchise tag deadline on Monday. Now, Jacobs’ future with the team is more uncertain amid new information about negotiations between the two sides.
In the hours leading up to the trade deadline, reports emerged that Las Vegas was engaged in active contract talks with Jacobs and the All-Pro running back was in the parking lot ready to sign a deal if terms were reached.
- Josh Jacobs stats (2022): 1,653 rushing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns, 93 first downs, 4.9 yards per carry, 2,053 scrimmage yards
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Even after the deadline passed, the early buzz from the team suggested the two sides came relatively close to a deal. It suggested that when Jacobs becomes eligible for a contract extension next spring, a deal could be reached. However, it now appears a deal was never happening.
According to Vic Tafur of The Athletic, contract talks between the Raiders and Jacobs were “dead in the water” the weekend before the extension deadline. Las Vegas never came close to offering a deal that Jacobs’ representatives viewed as acceptable and there was no expectation anything was going to change on the day of the deadline.
- Josh Jacobs contract: $10.091 million salary, 2024 free agent
Related: Josh Jacobs reportedly doesn’t have long-term future with Las Vegas Raiders
What did the Raiders offer Josh Jacobs?
After the deadline passed, Jacobs publicly stated that he wasn’t trying to become one of the highest-paid NFL players. Coming off a career-best season, he wanted a deal that reflected the contracts signed by the likes of Derrick Henry and Nick Chubb, making at least $12 million annually per season.
Las Vegas never came close to that. One alternative many thought could make both sides happy was a two-year extension worth approximately $22.3 million. It equals a combination of the franchise tag in 2023 ($10.091 million) and the projected tag for Jacobs in 2024 ($12.2 million).
However, per Tafur, the Raiders ‘never even got close to that number” throughout their negotiations with Jacobs. In the organization’s eyes, a two-year contract worth less than $12 million per season still wasn’t worth it.
Based on Tafur’s reporting, a resolution between the two sides was never happening. It raises questions about the motivation behind the leaked reports about the two sides being close to a deal on Monday.
The long-time Raiders’ reporter suggests that information came out for another reason. Tafur suggests that general manager Dave Ziegler and head coach Josh McDaniels wanted that perspective out there to convince the locker room that the team tried to extend Jacobs.
Because Jacobs hasn’t signed his franchise tag, he can skip training camp without being subject to the mandatory $50,000 daily fine for each day of practice missed. While he is expected to skip the majority of training camp, the Raiders expect Jacobs to report and play in Week 1.
