Josh Jacobs making NFL history with new contract with Raiders

By ignoring OTAs and sitting out training camp, Josh Jacobs bucked the recent running back salary trend. Will it be enough to reset the money for every player at his position?

Jacobs led the league in rushing in 2022. And instead of offering him a more lucrative deal, the Raiders stuck him with the franchise tag. That meant he’d receive a guaranteed salary of $10.1 million. Jacobs refused to sign the offer and steered clear of the Raiders for months.

Then on Saturday, the Raiders announced the team and Jacobs agreed to a one-year deal that will pay the running back $11.8 million, plus another possible $200,000 in incentives for 2023.

And the deal was historic for the NFL. According to NBC Sports, it’s the first time in the three-decade history of the franchise tag that a team has upped the base salary offer in final negotiations. Saquon Barkley, overall, also will receive more money than the franchise tag. But the Giants didn’t increase the base salary. Rather, they increased the one-year offer with incentives.

Josh Jacobs celebrated his new hefty salary with a modest tweet. “I’m back,” he shared on X Saturday morning.

I’m back 😈😏

— Josh Jacobs (@iAM_JoshJacobs) August 26, 2023

Team owner Mark Davis called Josh Jacobs ‘phenomenal’

Jacobs then started sharing other tweets, including a quote from team owner Mark Davis. ESPN’s Raiders beat reporter Paul Gutierrez said Davis told him of Jacobs: “I love him, I love Josh. He’s phenomenal. He was the heart of our team. He came to play every day. Tough, tough, tough guy…If we had 22 Josh Jacobs…, with that mentality, amazing.”

The Raiders selected Jacobs, the former Alabama standout, in the first round of the 2019 draft. He rushed for 1,653 yards last year. That was his third season of at least 1,000 yards.

Christian McCaffrey, the 49ers star, still is the highest-paid running back in the NFL. He’ll earn $16 million this season. Alvin Kamara of the Saints ranks second with a salary of $15 million. Titans star Derrick Henry, and his salary of $12.5 million, rank third. Nick Chubb of the Browns ranks fourth at $12.2 million.

Josh Jacobs surpassed Aaron Jones of the Packers into fifth. Jones’ contract calls for $11.5 million. The running back position still is the lowest paid in the NFL. According to Spotrac, the average salary for a starting running back is $5.2 million.

Jacobs now has two weeks to get into game shape. The Raiders open the season against the Broncos on Sept. 10.