The Dallas Cowboys now need to fill the running back position because Tony Pollard plans to test the open market this summer. It’s advised that they search the AFC West for a possible replacement.
The concept of the Dallas Cowboys signing Josh Jacobs, who the Las Vegas Raiders aren’t interested in keeping via the franchise tag for a second straight summer, was presented by Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report.
Jacobs will have little excuse not to at least test the market after refusing to sign a revised one-year, $12 million contract for the most of the 2023 offseason. If he does, it will be up to Las Vegas to decide whether to pay more for his services than other teams, according to Knox.
“A team like the Dallas Cowboys could be interested in making Jacobs an offer that the Raiders won’t match,” he added.
What role will Josh Jacobs play in the Dallas Cowboys’ system?
Jacobs’ stats declined in 2023 as he only managed to total 1,101 (805 rushing, 296 receiving) and six touchdowns, compared to 2,053 yards (1,653 rushing, 400 receiving) and 12 touchdowns in 2022. Due to a quad injury, he only appeared in 13 games.
It doesn’t make sense for the Las Vegas Raiders to spend a lot of money to keep Jacobs around this summer since they intend to deploy numerous running backs and not be as dependent on one player. According to NFL analyst Dianna Russini, this places the two-time Pro Bowler among the top two RB options available in free agency.
Last month, Tom Telesco, general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders, stated, “You need more than one back. That’s how we’re going to play and how a lot of teams play.” “I don’t really see anything akin to a lead-back. It is necessary for you to have multiple. You must own two; you must possess three. Each of them plays a distinct function on the club. It’s difficult to place the entire blame for the way this game is played on one person.
Josh Jacobs can fill the role of the dual-threat running back that the Dallas Cowboys haven’t had since Ezekiel Elliott in his heyday. The Alabama product, meanwhile, is only 26 years old—not “old” by NFL running back standards.
But for Dallas to get Jacobs, they may have to do some financial maneuvering since they’re roughly $4 million over the cap.