Josh Jacobs will be an important part of the Las Vegas Raiders for years to come. That is if they can keep him healthy. Carlos Hyde could be the insurance policy that makes sure it happens.
Drafting a running back this month could certainly help, but as we know, that can come with unknowns such as system fit, health, durability, and transitioning into the NFL. Despite what some might think, good running backs don’t grow on trees. And the Raiders should know that better than anyone given how long it took them to land someone of Jacobs’s caliber. Given the financial flexibility the team has right now, Hyde could be a worthwhile investment, whether it’s on a one or two-year deal.
A One-Two Punch Featuring Josh Jacobs?
One big reason for signing Hyde would actually be two-fold. One, you instantly have a menacing one-two punch out of the backfield and two, you avoid using a valuable draft pick on the position. The Raiders need to invest those picks on wide receivers, corners, and a linebacker.
Related: Amid more cap space, Raiders in prime position
In spite of his deficiencies in the passing game, let’s be honest here, Hyde would be brought in to be the bruiser he is. Even as he approaches the dreaded “thirty-year-old mark” for his position, you wouldn’t know it from watching him in 2019. In his only season with the Texans, he ran an impressive 4.4 yards per carry for 1,070 yards and averaged 66.9 yards per game.
For those Raiders fans that might be concerned about Hyde’s health, last year should also quell those fears. He started 14 of 16 games in 2019, so clearly, his body is holding up. Spotrac as of today gives him a market value of $3 million per season, not exactly a bargain. However, this isn’t the time for Raiders brass to be cheap, protecting Jacobs should be a savvy investment without the long-term commitment to Hyde. He gets some cash and Gruden can take back his running game to 1998, everyone’s happy.
You May Also Like: Raiders need to pull the trigger if they like a QB
[pickup_prop id=”20252″]