Josh Jacobs should be preparing for his fifth season in the NFL but is instead actively holding out from the Las Vegas Raiders training camp due to not wanting to play under the franchise tag in 2023.
The Raiders selected Jacobs in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft out of Alabama. He’s improved every season and now sits as one of the best running backs in the NFL.
Last offseason, the Raiders announced they declined to pick up Jacobs’ fifth-year option. This meant he could have been a free agent this offseason, but the usage of the franchise tag on him prevented that.
Unhappy with the money that would bring him, Jacobs wanted to get the ball rolling on a long-term deal. Las Vegas was hesitant. They aren’t alone, as there appears to be an ongoing battle between running backs and front offices all over the league.
The Miami Dolphins are hoping to make a Super Bowl run in 2023, but lack a game-changing running back. The franchise has not been shy in going after big names. They were heavily involved in the Dalvin Cook sweepstakes, but he landed with the New York Jets. They are reportedly actively engaged in trade talks with the Indianapolis Colts over Jonathan Taylor, but it’s too early to tell if anything will develop.
NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe recently reported that the Dolphins reached out to Las Vegas about Jacobs’ availability. They reportedly shut down those talks early on, saying they don’t plan on trading him.
At the time of publishing this story, there are less than two weeks until the start of the 2023 NFL regular season. Jacobs has still not reported to the Raiders and both sides seem to be waiting for the other to budge. However, the signs are pointing to each holding steady.
Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Jacobs and other former Alabama players now in the NFL.
[lawrence-auto-related count=1]
[lawrence-auto-related count=1]
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on Twitter @SpurrFM.