Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs was a first-round pick in 2019 that set records in his rookie season but, as of late, has been disappointing to fans and analysts alike.
Jacobs had high expectations for his third season (2021) after coming off back-to-back 1,000 yard rushing seasons in 2019 and 2020. However, expectations aren’t being met by the Silver and Black. The Raiders are nine games into the season, sitting at 5-4, and Jacobs is at a total of 296 yards. While Jacobs is splitting duties with newcomer and veteran Kenyan Drake, Jacobs is still taking most of the snaps. Additionally, Jacobs punched in seven touchdowns in 2019 and 12 in 2020, while in 2021, he has five to his credit.
Disappointment all around…
It would be an understatement to say that fans are disappointed in the Raiders’ rushing attack. Some woes can be attributed to a much less effective offensive line in 2021 than the previous two years; when a running back is drafted in the first round, you expect to see production regardless. Critics have compared Jacobs to Pittsburgh Steelers 2021 rookie Najee Harris (also from Alabama like Jacobs). Harris is also playing behind a sub-standard offensive line but has already produced 646 yards. The comparison may not be a fair one. That’s due to Harris being the focal point of the Steelers offensive scheme while Jacobs is less involved in Las Vegas. It should be noted that with the recent loss of Alec Ingold, however, there is a chance for additional regression.
This brief analysis begs the question; who is responsible for these deficiencies? The play calling? The scheme? The offensive line? Jacobs? There are many theories and takes on why this is happening. Some concrete evidence at least shows that Jacobs is involved and the opportunity to succeed is there. As far as Jacobs’ standing within the league, he is ranked 42nd in rushing, ninth in rushing touchdowns, and 37th in his average yards (3.7). These are not the kind of numbers you expect from a first-round draft pick if we’re being frank about it.
Should the Raiders pay up or not?
The bottom line is whether or not the Raiders should pay Jacobs after his final season on his rookie deal in 2022, where he is due to make over $2 million on his $11 million contract.
Given recent issues that we’ve seen paying running backs (Carolina’s Christian McCaffrey and LA’s Todd Gurley, to name a few), we see a higher rate of injury with an equally high contract that is not team-friendly. Unless Jacobs reverts to his output from previous seasons, it is unlikely that the Raiders pay him top running back money unless he is willing to take a less-than-market-high contract. Any player that gets the Raiders shield tattooed obviously wants to be a Raider for life. However, the NFL is a business first and foremost. With that being said, the organization will have to play it safe when it comes to Jacobs’ payday. If there even is to be one.
[pickup_prop id=”15416″]
*Top Photo: Chris Unger/Getty Images