The Las Vegas Raiders were spoiled when it came to the running back position in 2022. For the first time in his NFL career, Josh Jacobs led the NFL in rushing yards with 1,653. At the young age of 24, Jacobs still has a lot left in the tank. With that in mind, Las Vegas will absolutely hope to retain Jacobs. Unfortunately, Josh will get to hear from teams around the league as well, as he enters free agency for the first time. If the Raiders do lose Jacobs, here are three free agent running backs who could replace him.
Could the Raiders replace Josh Jacobs via free agency?
Option No. 1: Saquon Barkley
If Las Vegas is unfortunate enough to lose Jacobs, Barkley would be more than a viable replacement. Saquon and Jacobs are the top two candidates, so it wouldn’t be much of a downgrade, if it is one at all, for Las Vegas. Barkley’s career sputtered after a fantastic rookie season, but he found his footing again in 2022.
Last season, Barkley was able to set a new career high in yards with 1,312. Saquon did this at an impressive 4.4 yards per attempt and 82 yards per game. With those numbers, obviously, comes a high price tag. If the Raiders spend big money on a running back come March, it will likely be Jacobs anyway. If that doesn’t go according to plan, though, Barkley is an excellent second option.
Option No. 2: Miles Sanders
The next top running back hitting the market this spring is Miles Sanders. As a key part of the Philadelphia Eagles’ fantastic offense this past season, Sanders was outstanding. Miles literally ran for miles, finishing the year with over 1,200 yards on nearly five yards per attempt.
He didn’t make as much of an impact in the receiving game as he has in the past, but that has a lot to do with the running back room in Philadelphia as a whole. Sanders still possesses that skill, and it’s another dynamic aspect that could be added to the Raiders’ offense. He’ll likely come cheaper than Barkley and Jacobs, so if the Raiders wanted to save money, Sanders would be the best option.
Option No. 3: Tony Pollard
Finally, we have more of an underrated option. Pollard has been one of the most underrated players in the league for a long time now, but he finally got his due after breaking 1,000 yards for the first time in 2022. His excellent 5.2 yards per carry stands out, and Pollard had quite the year as he prepared to enter free agency.
Unfortunately, Pollard did suffer a brutal ankle injury in Dallas’ playoff loss. Tony underwent surgery to repair his ankle in late January and will spend his offseason rehabbing. The injury, especially tough for a running back, may raise some red flags. However, Pollard is expected to be fully healthy come training camp. Pollard would be cheaper than Jacobs, Barkley, and Sanders and would be a very underrated candidate for Las Vegas.
*Top Photo: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
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