Raiders: The Mishandling Of All-Pro Running Back Josh Jacobs Cannot Go Unnoted

Running back Josh Jacobs spent the first five seasons of his career wearing the NFL’s iconic silver and black uniforms. In this timespan, the Alabama alum managed to total 5,545 yards on the ground with 46 touchdowns. He added an additional 1,448 yards as a pass-catcher as well. During this past offseason, however, the Las Vegas Raiders thought it best to part ways with the 26-year-old runner.

Nine weeks through the 2024 NFL season, that decision has already proved to be a costly one.

Up to this point in the year, Jacobs has totaled the third-most rushing yards league-wide with 762 and the second-most yards after contact with 590. Only three players across the NFL have escaped more would-be tackles than Jacobs, who has slipped free from the grasp of defenders on 33 occasions.

Pro Football Focus has given Jacobs a grade of 86.9 through nine weeks; the fourth-highest mark in the NFL among running backs with at least 50 carries.

If these numbers aren’t yet stinging Raider Nation, they should when comparing them to the numbers Las Vegas’ running backs have collectively accumulated.

As things stand, each and every player to play for the Raiders this season, whether running back, quarterback, or other position, has combined for 692 total rushing yards; 70 less than Jacobs alone. Additionally, each Raider has combined for 485 yards after contact; over 100 less than the first-team All-Pro running back.

There’s no other way to say it—Las Vegas greatly mishandled the Josh Jacobs situation.

First-year Raiders general manager Tom Telesco has done a lot of good in his short time with Las Vegas. Thanks to Telesco’s efforts, stars such as Christian Wilkins and Brock Bowers have been added to Sin City’s roster. His tenure hasn’t been a mistake-free one, however; the situation surrounding Jacobs proves that true.

After Jacobs rejected an undisclosed offer which he referred to as a “discount,” there was little effort to get a multi-year deal done. And so, the two-time Pro Bowler headed to Green Bay on a deal that made him the fifth-highest paid running back annually.

There was never any reason not to give Jacobs, who wanted to remain with the Raiders, a similar salary.

Some fans claim it isn’t a good idea to give running backs a sizable pay-day as the position doesn’t help produce wins. At minimum, that sentiment simply isn’t true when it comes to Josh Jacobs.

During the entirety of Jacobs’ tenure with the Silver and Black, the team posted a record of 39-44. With a win percentage of 46.9%, this may be why some of Raider Nation believes the impact of running backs isn’t notable.

But here’s the kicker: In games where Jacobs was tasked with carrying the football at least 20 times, Las Vegas won 22 contests while only losing seven (75.8%). Similarly, the Packers have won both of their games where Jacobs totaled 20+ carries.

Others throw the word ‘inconsistent’ around when it comes to Jacobs, but in truth, his ’23 campaign was the only time the All-Pro running back didn’t perform up to his standard.

Josh Jacobs’ ‘inconsistencies’

From 2019-2022, Jacobs totaled at least 20 broken tackles each and every season. In addition, the former first-rounder went each of those seasons escaping no less than 50 would-be tackles. Among all running backs in the National Football League, Nick Chubb was the only other player to hit at least one of those marks each year.

Jacobs has always been a back who’s excelled post-contact, and his numbers have continuously supported that.

In his first four seasons with the Raiders, Jacobs cracked the top-10 via yards after contact every campaign. The star runner joined Derrick Henry and Nick Chubb as one-of-three backs to achieve this feat each season between ’19 and ’22.

Does any of that really sound inconsistent?

2023 did present a different story for the tailback, but not one so different that it negates every prior accomplishment. While the tape did show regression, Jacobs still managed to total 805 rushing yards and six touchdowns through 13 contests. Thanks to his 296 yards receiving, 2019’s 24th-overall pick managed to surpass 1,100 scrimmage yards for his fifth consecutive season.

Should it come as a surprise that Jacobs’ ’24 production closely matches what he did four-of-five years in the NFL as opposed to his 13 games in ’23?

Offensive line differences

Would Jacobs’ production with the Packers be any different if he ran behind the Raiders’ offensive line instead of Green Bay’s? That’s a fair question to ask. Although we’ll never know the true answer to that question, there’s an abundance of context we can use to arrive at a conclusion.

The above question gets asked due to the Raiders’ offensive line becoming progressively worse since Jacobs led the NFL in rushing yardage two seasons ago. At least, the belief is Las Vegas’ O-line has gotten progressively worse since.

It isn’t actually true, though.

From then to now – the Las Vegas Raiders offensive line

Sin City’s offensive line this season is as it was in 2022 when Jacobs led the league in rushing yards with 1,653—better, in fact. Kolton Miller, Dylan Parham and Andre James served as the Raiders’ starting left tackle, left guard, and center two seasons ago just as they do today. Parham, a rookie during the team’s ’22 campaign, has greatly improved since.

Thayer Munford, who totaled 369 snaps during Jacobs’ career-season, remains in Las Vegas as well. The Raiders have since plugged rookie D.J. Glaze at right tackle, who Raider Nation believes to be an upgrade over Munford.

Right guard is the only position to change completely in the meantime. In 2022, Alex Bars was who the team trotted out to the right of James. Among all guards with at least 400 snaps, not one player league-wide earned a lower run-block grade than Bars (39.6).

That’s who Josh Jacobs was able to lead the league in rushing yardage with as his blockers.

Comparing 2022’s offensive line to the one in 2024, Bars, who once again was the league’s lowest-graded run-blocking guard among all guards with at least 400 snaps, has been replaced by Jordan Meredith. As it just so happens, while Bars was one of the worst run-blockers league-wide, Meredith is one of the best.

It’s no secret that Bars was the weak-point in the team’s O-line unit two years ago. What is a well-kept secret, however, is Meredith perhaps being Las Vegas’ best offensive lineman this season. Only three guards across the NFL have a pass-block grade higher than Meredith’s mark of 82.4, and only six beat his 80.0 run-block grade.

Had the Raiders retained Jacobs moving forward, he’d be running behind an improved version of the line he had in 2022.

Josh Jacobs makes offensive lines better

It’s hard to imagine, right? That in comparison to 2022’s seemingly fine offensive line, the struggling 2024 unit is actually a well-upgraded version of their ’22 self.

How could that be?

The answer is simple: Jacobs makes offensive lines appear better than they are due to his ability to create for himself. The same thing is currently happening in Green Bay.

The Packers ended their ’23 campaign with an offensive line ranked outside of the top-10. Although nothing has changed aside from subbing in Sean Rhyan at right guard, who has the 66th-highest run-blocking grade among all guards league-wide with a mark of 57.4, their O-line has since jumped to 5th-best in the NFL.

Similarly, the Raiders offensive line ranked 10th-best league-wide at the ’22 season’s end. They ranked 10th-best again at the end of their ’23 campaign, and, despite only getting more talented since, the unit has fallen to 27th-best nine weeks through the 2024 season.

All it takes to go from 10th-best to 27th is one less Josh Jacobs in the backfield.

This shouldn’t have to be a lesson a 12-year general manager learns, but if you have a multi-year Pro Bowler who also happens to be a first-team All-Pro, you do everything you can to keep them around—especially if that player is only 26 years old. Hopefully both Telesco and the rest of the Las Vegas Raiders’ staff make note of that as they deal with their 2-7 season while watching Jacobs and the Packers hold a 6-3 record.