The Las Vegas Raiders are 1-3 and don’t appear to be a postseason candidate, so expect to hear Josh Jacobs‘ name discussed frequently in trade speculations in the days coming up to the Oct. 31 deadline.
This offseason, a long-term agreement between the Raiders and Jacobs was not able to be reached. Jacobs, who can sign a free-agent contract in the spring of 2014, decided on a 12-million-dollar, one-year agreement.
In order to avoid losing the 2022 rushing champion to free agency for nothing in 2024, Vegas would be prudent to trade Jacobs if they are out of the playoff race at the deadline. The Cincinnati Bengals, who are in the running for the Super Bowl, should be all over this.
What a blitz pickup by Josh Jacobs
Believe he sees it pre-snap. Nice footwork to get in position to pick it up. And the FINISH! pic.twitter.com/ZLeJ1oP6BP
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) September 27, 2023
With 247 rushing yards and a score, Joe Mixon is doing well, but a more explosive player like Jacobs would elevate this offense. A Mixon-Jacobs combination would also relieve some of the load on the Bengals offense’s excessively dependent passing attack.
In exchange for Jacobs, Cincinnati ought to give Las Vegas a third-round pick in 2024 and a fifth-round pick in 2026. For the Raiders, who can’t reasonably expect a huge haul for a prospective free agency playing a depreciating position, this would be a good kind of recompense.
Josh Jacobs is BACK! #LVvsLAC | 📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/9yp2i8EiCq
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) October 1, 2023
The Bengals could always extend the Alabama product and make him their RB1 moving forward if Jacobs performs well in Cincinnati. Jacobs, Joe Burrow, and Ja’Marr Chase on offense would make the Bengals even frightening in a game.