The Raiders might not have a quarterback this season, depending on how the health of Jimmy Garoppolo turns out. They are currently picked to finish last in the AFC West, and that is with Garoppolo playing. Let’s take a look about Josh Jacobs trade odds.
All of that has fueled speculation that Las Vegas is ready to embrace a full rebuild for 2024 and beyond, and one of their hottest commodities, running back Josh Jacobs, is available by trade.
Jacobs was annoyed by the Raiders a year ago when they declined to pick up his fifth-year option. So annoyed that he went out and proved their decision wrong by leading the NFL in rushing. NFL stats aside, he was more than just a rushing champion. He became the leader of their offense, especially after quarterback Derek Carr was benched.
Adding to his frustration was the offseason trade of tight end Darren Waller, which Jacobs responded to with an expletive on Twitter.
Click here to dive into our BetUs Review
Pre- and Post-Draft Trade Odds
Prior to the NFL Draft at the end of April, Josh Jacobs trade odds were sitting at +900. It made him one of the most likely candidates to be traded before or during the draft. He was right up there on the list with NFL players Austin Ekeler, Dalvin Cook, and Derrick Henry. None of them were moved, and it’s unclear what the market looks like right now for running back trades.
The NFL picks as the best fit for a Jacobs trade before the draft were the Bills, Seahawks, Giants, and Broncos. Seattle is out after drafting Zach Charbonnet from UCLA. And New York has tagged running back Saquon Barkley, so they aren’t likely to bring in another running back on the tag, according to the NFL odds. That leaves the Bills and Broncos as potential suitors, and both would make sense.
Risky Business
Denver has Javonte Williams coming back from a serious knee injury, and Samaje Perine, who has never carried the ball more than 95 times in his six years as a pro. Josh Jacobs trade odds probably take a hit when it comes to the Raiders trading him inside the division, but if the price is right, they would bite.
Buffalo has James Cook as the starting back, with Damien Harris, Nyheim Hines, and Latavius Murray all in the mix. But those are all backs who never truly been an RB1, or have a lot of mileage on their legs.
Buffalo says they want to lighten the load on Josh Allen. If they want him to set NFL records as a passer, they need better running backs. Jacobs certainly fits that bill.
Paying the Price
One of the roadblocks to a Jacobs to Buffalo trade is the $10 million salary cap hit, and the trade compensation that would make it worthwhile to Las Vegas. Even as the team looks to be a rebuild, Jacobs was just named by Pro Football Focus as the fourth-best running back in the NFL. The Raiders are going to want a late first-round pick or early second-round pick for his services.
Running back continues to become devalued in the NFL, and that suppresses the trade market. Each of the top three rushers last season played for teams that missed the playoffs. Conversely, five of the top six passers made the playoffs, and eight of the nine top receivers did.
What do the Raiders Say?
As they did a year ago when we first started debating the Josh Jacobs trade odds, the Raiders say that they are not interested in moving him. They say they put the tag on him because they want him to be a Raider.
Jacobs was noticeably absent from the Raiders OTAs, as he continues to refuse to sign the franchise tag in the hopes of signing something more long-term. He has until July 15 to work out a deal with the Raiders, otherwise, the tag becomes the only option.
It isn’t technically a holdout, since he isn’t eligible to participate in OTAs until he signs the tag. But in reality, it is the same thing. He wants a contract, the Raiders are hesitant, and maybe Jacobs will have to go elsewhere to get it.
Along with being the rushing champion in 2022, Jacobs had 12 touchdowns and was named first-team All-Pro. He won’t turn 26 until after the 2023 season.
If you love sports and want more sports betting information. Follow us as @InsidersBetDig on Twitter and sign up to our mailing list for free betting picks.