No Deal Imminent Between Raiders, Josh Jacobs

The deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign a long-term deal is fast approaching, meaning the Raiders have plenty to do with respect to Josh Jacobs negotiations. Talks are not expected to produce an agreement in the immediate future.

Instead, they are likely to “come down to the wire” on Monday, per The Athletic’s Vic Tafur (subscription required). A deal must be agreed upon by 3pm central on July 17 to avoid Jacobs (and the other three franchise tag recipients yet to sign a new contract) playing on the one-year pact in 2023. He would earn $10.1MM in that event, a lower figure than what his play last season would suggest he is worth on an extension.

The former first-rounder led the NFL in scrimmage yards in 2022, making the team’s decision to decline his fifth-year option a regrettable one in retrospect. Now, the Raiders are faced with the prospect of committing to a lucrative multi-year contract, or leaving one of the franchise’s most respected players disgruntled ahead of a season in which notable improvement compared to last campaign is seen as a requirement. The Dave Ziegler-Josh McDaniels regime must calculate Jacobs’ value within the context of what is unlikely to be an all-in approach in the near future.

The Alabama product has a fan in owner Mark Davis, however, and reports of mutual interest regarding an extension have emerged over the course of the offseason. Running backs have not fared well this offseason, though, which leaves the Raiders with plenty of leverage as negotiations continue. Jacobs has expressed frustration at his own financial situation and that of the position in general, leading to the outside possibility of a Week 1 absence on the All-Pro’s part.

Much of the speculation centered on the franchise tag has been related to Giants back Saquon Barkley, as negotiations on that front have become increasingly public. The situation has been quieter for Jacobs, but many have felt the two situations could be connected with respect to the value one (or both) will be able to earn on a long-term deal. On that point, Tafur adds that it “seems unlikely” either back will wait to see how the other fares, given the limited time remaining before the deadline.

Jacobs’ camp and the Raiders will have the weekend and Monday morning to hammer out an agreement, and both sides will presumably operate with more urgency in the coming days. The wait will, however, likely continue all the way to the deadline to determine if a satisfactory pact can be worked out in time.