Just as expected, the Las Vegas Raiders have used their franchise tag on star running-back Josh Jacobs to stop him entering free agency.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the Raiders have used their franchise tag on Jacobs which will secure the running-back a guaranteed $10.091 million (£8.35m) salary for the 2023 season. Jacobs has been holding out for a bumper long-term deal, and even warned the Raiders against using the tag earlier this year.
The tag means that the Raiders will have until July 15 to discuss a new contract with the 25-year-old, otherwise Jacobs will have no choice but to play the 2023 season with the pre-agreed sum. Jacobs has already hinted that the $10m salary is not enough after he led the NFL in rushing yards last season, and will be hoping for a new deal.
Jacobs was asked about how he'd feel if the Raiders decided to tag him at the end of last season, and his response said it all. "Ooh, hero turned villain," Jacobs said when asked what his response would be. "Hero turned villain, man."
But it's by far the best option for the Raiders, as they are still on the hunt for a new quarterback after releasing Derek Carr. The Raiders can't afford to lose Jacobs as he's a key part of their offense, and he proved last season that he's one of the best running-backs in the league.
The 24-year-old scooped up the NFL rushing title for the 2022 season, leading the league with 1,653 yards. It was a huge improvement from the previous campaign, as in 2021 Jacobs had just 872 rushing yards.
Jacobs has certainly proved his worth since being drafted back in 2019, but the Raiders are being careful with their salary cap ahead of the upcoming season, and want more time to negotiate with the running-back. The Raiders were heavily linked with an audacious move for Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but the franchise have since distanced themselves.
A report from The Athletic claimed that Raiders general manager Dave Ziegler and head coach Josh McDaniels agreed that they will not be in the mix for Rodgers, should he decide to leave the Green Bay Packers. Although the Raiders are in need of a star quarterback, they're not willing to give up valuable picks in return.
It's set to be a measured off-season within the Raiders organisation, as they look to get things right ahead of the 2023 season. But if Jacobs' attitude over a new deal hasn't changed, they may have their hands full.
