It was so close, yet so far for Raiders running back Josh Jacobs.
The 25-year-old Jacobs apparently sat in his car outside of the team facility at Monday’s franchise tag deadline, “ready to sign if it [a long-term deal] got done,” according to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero.
The waiting game ultimately failed, however, as Jacobs and the Raiders were unable to reach an agreement by the 4 p.m. ET cutoff.
He has not yet signed the $10.091 million franchise tag tender for the 2023 season, according to NFL.com, and will likely opt out of training camp.
Discussions of a new agreement between Jacobs and the Raiders can resume at the earliest in the 2024 offseason.
Jacobs was selected 24th overall by the Raiders in 2019, when former head coach Jon Gruden and then-general manager Mike Mayock were at the helm.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) stands on the sideline. APThe organization’s new leadership, consisting of head coach Josh McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler, did not pick up Jacobs’ fifth-year option last spring.
Jacobs had a standout 2022 season, in which he was named to the NFL’s First-Team All-Pro and led the league with 1,653 rushing yards.
The last time a Raider led the NFL in rushing yards was Marcus Allen’s 1985 MVP season.
Further, Jacobs had 12 rushing touchdowns — matching his career-high he achieved in 2020.
Josh Jacobs #28 of the Las Vegas Raiders runs with the ball. Getty ImagesJacobs, who was reportedly seeking a deal potentially between $26 million and $32 million in full guarantees, tweeted Monday, “We never tried to reset the market.”
Jacobs cannot be fined for being a no-show at training camp later this month as he is not under contract.
He will lose money if he sits out regular season games, however.
Jacobs wasn’t the only running back who failed to reach a long-term deal before Monday’s deadline.
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley #26, speaking to the media. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard (20) runs from Minnesota Vikings. APSaquon Barkley and the Giants did not come to terms on an agreement, with the former first-round pick tweeting, “It is what it is.”
Elsewhere, there was no long-term resolution between the Cowboys and Tony Pollard.
It is unclear if any of those there running backs will opt to sit out of the 2023 season in protest.
Le’Veon Bell famously did so in 2018 with the Steelers, a move he recently apologized for.
