As the deadline passed on Monday, the Las Vegas Raiders and Josh Jacobs were unable to reach a contract extension.
Consequently, the running back will play the 2023 season on the franchise tag if he chooses to sign it.
Jacobs joins Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants and Tony Pollard of the Dallas Cowboys as running backs who did not sign extensions with their respective teams.
Despite the contract situation, Jacobs had an exceptional season in 2022, leading the NFL in rushing yards with 1,653 and scoring 12 touchdowns. This performance earned him a well-deserved spot on the First-Team All-Pro selection for the first time in his career.
In response to the contract negotiations, Jacobs addressed the situation on Twitter, denying reports that he wanted to reset the market and earn $16 million annually.
We never tried to reset the market
— Josh Jacobs (@iAM_JoshJacobs) July 17, 2023
He retweeted messages of support from fellow running backs Najee Harris, Christian McCaffrey, Austin Ekeler, and Derrick Henry.
However, in order to play the 2023 season, Jacobs will need to sign the one-year franchise tender, which is valued at approximately $10.1 million. He has made it clear that he is willing to sit out training camp and potentially the season if a deal is not reached.
Jacobs expressed his discontent by stating that he would feel like a “hero turned villain” if he was forced to play under the franchise tag. Reports indicate that he was seeking a deal with guarantees ranging from $26 to $32 million.
Throughout his four seasons with the Raiders, Jacobs has played in 60 games, accumulating 4,740 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns on the ground.
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