Josh Jacobs, Rock Ya-Sin, Raiders Free Agents' Projected Contracts

The Las Vegas Raiders are eyeing a rebuilding year under sophomore head coach Josh McDaniels in 2023. Las Vegas was a playoff team just two seasons ago, but it stumbled to a 6-11 record in 2022 and parted with starting quarterback Derek Carr shortly thereafter.

However, this doesn't mean that the Raiders will be looking to blow up their roster entirely. Several pieces of the 2021 playoff squad remain but are heading to free agency. Las Vegas should be eager to re-sign at least a few of them.

Equipped with $46.3 million in projected cap space, the Raiders should be able to keep the players it truly wants.

For the Raiders, the question is less about who to keep and more about whether it makes financial sense to retain them. With this in mind, let's dive into some contract projections for Las Vegas' top impending free agents.

Factors like past production, health, age, upside and positional value were all considered here. A complete list of Raiders 2023 free agents can be found at Spotrac.

Josh Jacobs

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Josh Jacobs

The Raiders are keeping Pro Bowl running back and 2022 NFL rushing leader Josh Jacobs—at least for the coming season.

"The Las Vegas Raiders are planning to use the franchise tag on reigning NFL rushing champion Josh Jacobs for the 2023 season, sources confirmed to ESPN," Paul Gutierrez of ESPN wrote on Friday.

The deadline to use the franchise tag is Tuesday.

Ideally, though, Las Vegas will only use the tag as a tool to keep Jacobs from hitting the market. A long-term extension should still be the primary goal, though it's likely to be costly.

Jacobs has a projected market value of $12.8 million annually. That's more than the $10.1 million it would cost to keep Jacobs for a year by using the tag, but an extension would also prevent Las Vegas from going through the proverbial contract dance with Jacobs again next offseason.

However, Jacobs is a 25-year-old back who has been heavily utilized dating back to his time at Alabama. A six-year extension like the one Ezekiel Elliott got from the Dallas Cowboys several years ago wouldn't make sense for Las Vegas.

If the Raiders are able to lock up Jacobs beyond this season, expect it to be with a far shorter contract.

Contract Projection: three years, $40 million with $21 million guaranteed

Rock Ya-Sin

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Raiders CB Rock Ya-Sin

Cornerback Rock Ya-Sin is another player Las Vegas should be eager to retain. The Raiders pass defense was atrocious in 2022—it ranked 29th in yards allowed and 27th in yards per attempt allowed (7.0)—and Ya-Sin was one of the team's few reliable pass defenders.

Ya-Sin only appeared in 11 games before suffering a season-ending knee injury. However, he notched seven passes defended and allowed an opposing passer rating of just 82.6 in coverage.

Las Vegas isn't going to re-sign Ya-Sin on a bargain-basement deal, as he has a projected market value of $10.8 million annually. However, he'll be much cheaper than market leaders like James Bradberry—who has a market value of $15.1 million annually.

The Raiders could afford to re-sign Ya-Sin and go after one of the big-name cornerbacks, like Bradberry, in free agency.

Given what Ya-Sin showed in his first season with the Raiders, locking up the 26-year-old with a multi-year deal would make a ton of sense.

Contract Projection: three years, $33 million with $18 million guaranteed

Jarrett Stidham

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Raiders QB Jarrett Stidham

With Carr out, the Raiders are seeking a starter for the 2023 season. According to ESPN's Dan Graziano, the Raiders are "a team to watch" for Green Bay Packers trade candidate Aaron Rodgers. Per Graziano, the Raiders could also turn to Jimmy Garoppolo, who played under McDaniels while both were with the New England Patriots.

Jarrett Stidham, who started the final two games of 2022 for Las Vegas, is another quarterback who worked under McDaniels in New England. While Stidham went 0-2 as the starter, he produced a respectable 89.2 quarterback rating.

Given his experience with both McDaniels and with the Raiders' roster, Stidham is a logical candidate to re-sign—whether or not Las Vegas lands Rodgers or Garoppolo. He'd be a valuable backup at worst and a potential spot starter if needed.

Stidham could also serve as a bridge quarterback if Las Vegas is unable to sign a desired veteran and instead looks at quarterbacks with the seventh overall pick in the draft.

The cost to retain Stidham should be minimal. He has limited starting experience, and several journeyman quarterbacks—including Garoppolo, Jacoby Brissett, Carson Wentz and Carr—will be available.

Expect Stidham to garner something lower than the one-year, $5.1 million deal Mason Rudolph inked with the Pittsburgh Steelers last offseason.

Contract Projection: one year, $3.5 million non-guaranteed

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*Cap, contract and market information via Spotrac. Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference.