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Ranking the Raiders’ top free agents: How badly does Josh Jacobs want to come back?
By Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed
3h ago
Quarterback, quarterback, quarterback. That’s what everybody wants for the Las Vegas Raiders, no disrespect to Aidan O’Connell.
But before we lose ourselves in free-agent and draft possibilities, what about the other side of the coin? What could the Raiders lose in free agency?
Some key contributors will hit the free-agent market if new general manager Tom Telesco doesn’t re-sign them before the start of the new league year March 13. Here’s our ranking of the Raiders’ top eight unrestricted free agents, in order of which players are likely to demand the most interest on the open market.
1. RB Josh Jacobs
At age 26 and a season removed from leading the league in rushing, Jacobs should have a lot of suitors on the free-agent market. Well, if running backs were valued as much as other positions are. They’re not, though, and Jacobs will have to decide how much is enough to come back and play for coach Antonio Pierce, whom he campaigned for to get the full-time coaching job. Jacobs will be seeking a multiyear contract, according to a league source.
Jacobs missed the final four games of last season due to a quad injury and posted career-low marks in rushing yards (805), rushing touchdowns (six), yards per carry (3.5) and total yards from scrimmage (1,103). Despite the injury and underwhelming production, however, Pierce has been clear that he wants Jacobs back on the roster in 2024.
With better health, much-needed improvements on the offensive line and greater offensive balance, Jacobs could have a bounce-back year. Considering he was a first-team All-Pro in 2022, the Raiders might be willing to make that bet. How much will it come down to money? After refusing to sign the franchise tag last year and holding out through training camp, Jacobs signed a one-year, $12 million contract.
It feels unlikely the Raiders would place the franchise tag on Jacobs again — it would result in him making at least $14.1 million, which is a hefty price for a running back in today’s NFL. Especially given the emergence of backup Zamir White in December, it would be difficult to justify carrying that cap hit. The best path forward is to find a reasonable middle ground and agree on a multiyear deal.
Telesco showed a willingness to do that with the Chargers in 2020 when he signed running back Austin Ekeler to a four-year, $24.5 million deal. But he also refused to meet Ekeler’s price in extension talks just last year. Telesco has a history of valuing positional value, and paying a running back a lot of money isn’t something that typically fits into that ideology.
2. OT Jermaine Eluemunor
Eluemunor started 14 games — 12 at right tackle and two at left tackle — and overcame a slow start and was solid both as a run blocker and in pass protection. The Raiders could pursue an upgrade at right tackle or decide that Thayer Munford — who played 57 percent of the offensive snaps in 2023 while also making starts at both left and right tackle and filling a role as a jumbo tight end — is ready to step into a larger role. That was the plan with the old regime, and Munford was unable to overtake the veteran. In that scenario, Eluemunor — who is interested in testing the market — may be able to land a starting job elsewhere.
3. CB Amik Robertson
After an up-and-down start to his career with the Raiders, Robertson settled in as a reliable starter at outside cornerback in 2023. In his 12 starts, he was consistent in coverage, frequently made plays on the ball, displayed versatility in playing both corner and nickelback, and was effective in run support. He’s undersized at 5 foot 9, 183 pounds, but he made up for it with his athleticism, physicality and awareness. He also had great chemistry with the rest of the secondary, especially fellow corners Jack Jones and Nate Hobbs. This remains a spot where the Raiders will likely explore adding talent, though, which could send Robertson looking for a starting nickel role with another team.
4. DT John Jenkins
The life of a nose tackle can be thankless, but Jenkins made his presence felt in 2023. He started all 17 games and set a career high with 61 tackles while playing for his sixth team. He didn’t make plays in the backfield often — he had just one sack and four tackles for loss — but the 6-foot-3, 327-pounder served as a space eater who freed up his teammates to rack up the flashier stats. He’ll be 35 this season, but he showed he can still turn on the jets and be a valuable contributor.
5. DT Adam Butler
Butler came out of nowhere — he was out of the league in 2022 after failing a physical — to play a major role for the Raiders inside. The sixth-year veteran also made some plays, netting five sacks and eight tackles for a loss in 17 games. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound former New England Patriot and Miami Dolphin earned $1.7 million after bonuses thanks to his one-year deal with the Raiders. Butler will get more than that on the market, and it will be interesting to see if the Raiders try to take care of him before that happens.
6. C Andre James
James was decent in 16 games as a starter, but he deserves a tip of the cap for helping O’Connell prepare for all of the different pressures he faced. James has largely stayed healthy and maintained a baseline level of play in his three years holding down this role for the Raiders, but he can be overpowered at times and the Raiders likely can do better at the position. They have been cross-training left guard Dylan Parham at center throughout his first two seasons and could have him fully transition in 2024. James was a college offensive tackle, but he’s been a center-only player in his five years with the Raiders and hasn’t shown he’s capable of playing another position in the NFL. Whether it’s with the Raiders or another team, he’ll be looking for a job as a starting center.
7. DT Bilal Nichols
The Raiders didn’t get a lot of bang for their buck after signing Nichols to a two-year, $11 million deal in 2022. But they got a solid role player who had three sacks, eight tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and a touchdown in 34 starts. Nichols, 27, was part of a surprisingly effective rotation down the stretch in 2023, and he loves playing with Maxx Crosby. (Who wouldn’t?) Is there any chance he’d come back to the Raiders at a discount?
8. WR DeAndre Carter
Carter never broke through as a returner, where his 9.7-yard average on punts and 23.8 on kickoffs were nothing special. He had no role on offense after a costly drop early in the season and finished with just four catches and three rushes. He was a great locker-room guy and helped rookie Tre Tucker and some other special teams players a lot. Pierce says Carter was knocking on the door and can make some plays, so don’t rule out the possibility of him coming back. Still, it depends on the new offensive coordinator and who’s available on the free-agent market.
Not an inspiring list. Lol
I don’t want to pay retail price for any of these players.
I would like a few to come back on teams-friendly deals. They add nice depth/continuity. And Jacobs could be impactful again.
All of them we should be able to replace . . . but Telesco has struggled building depth/effective roll players on teams.
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