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It has been revealed just how close running back Josh Jacobs and Las Vegas Raiders were to signing a long-term contract when the deadline passed on Monday.
Jacobs, along with teammate and standout edge rusher Maxx Crosby, was sitting in a car at the Raiders’ facility, ready to put pen to paper if a deal could be reached, per Tom Pelissero.
Unfortunately for Jacobs and the Raiders, an agreement could not be reached before the deadline.
How close was Josh Jacobs to signing an extension with the #Raiders?
He was sitting in a car in the parking lot of the #Raiders facility with teammate Maxx Crosby at the deadline, ready to sign if it got done.
It didn’t, and now it’s unclear when the rushing champ will return. pic.twitter.com/Ex1JzR1QOt
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 17, 2023
The failure to reach a deal means that Jacobs will have to play the upcoming season under the franchise tag, which leaves some uncertainty surrounding his future beyond this year.
Interestingly, Jacobs was not the only running back who found himself in this predicament. Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants and Tony Pollard of the Dallas Cowboys also failed to come to terms on long-term deals before the deadline.
While the Giants reportedly came close to reaching an agreement with Barkley, it seems the negotiations ultimately fell through.
The inability of these three talented running backs to secure long-term contracts has sparked outrage across the league, particularly among other running backs who have already signed lucrative deals.
Prominent players like Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans, Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers, and Austin Ekeler of the Los Angeles Chargers have all come forward to vehemently defend Jacobs, Barkley, and Pollard.
At this point , just take the RB position out the game then . The ones that want to be great & work as hard as they can to give their all to an organization , just seems like it don’t even matter . I’m with every RB that’s fighting to get what they deserve . https://t.co/OgvBWZCKvn
— Derrick Henry (@KingHenry_2) July 17, 2023
This situation has highlighted a concerning trend in the running back market, as the value of the position appears to be diminishing. Despite Jacobs leading the league in rushing yards in the previous season, he has now become a victim of the declining running back market.
It raises questions about the future of the position and the financial compensation that elite running backs can expect moving forward.