NFL Rumors: Josh Jacobs Eyed by Chiefs, Broncos If Raiders Rescind Franchise Tag

If the Las Vegas Raiders decide to wash their hands of Josh Jacobs, a pair of AFC West rivals could swoop in.

The Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs are among the teams interested in Jacobs if the Raiders decide to rescind their franchise tag offer to their disgruntled running back, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

Jacobs has not participated in any offseason workouts and has been absent from training camp over his continued displeasure with receiving the tag. The Raiders and Jacobs cannot come to a long-term contract but could reach a one-year deal that includes a no-tag clause or performance bonuses that could take the running back's salary over the $10.1 million mark.

Saquon Barkley and the New York Giants were able to reach an end to their impasse when the team offered Barkley incentives that could allow his deal to reach $11 million.

Jacobs led the NFL with 1,653 rushing yards last season, emerging with an All-Pro season after the Raiders declined his fifth-year option the previous offseason. Las Vegas corrected its mistake by retaining Jacobs via the franchise tag, but that put the team in a situation where the Alabama product carries the power to determine when—or if—he shows up.

The running back market has become increasingly unfriendly, with Jacobs, Barkley and Tony Pollard all receiving the tag. No running back received a long-term contract this offseason with an average annual salary of more than $6.3 million.

Indianapolis Colts star Jonathan Taylor is currently angling for a trade due to the team's failure to offer him a long-term contract.

The overall contractual crisis led to several star running backs convening for a Zoom meeting last month to discuss the state of the position.

"Right now, there's really nothing we can do," Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb told reporters. "We're kind of handcuffed with the situation. We're the only position that our production hurts us the most. If we go out there and run 2,000 yards with so many carries, the next year they're going to say, you're probably worn down. It's tough. ... It hurts us at the end of the day."

While there is clearly some understandable tension, Jacobs could stand to make more money by taking the year-to-year approach. If the Raiders franchise tag Jacobs again, he would have a guaranteed $12.1 million salary for the 2024 season—giving him $22.2 million in guarantees over a two-year span.

There are only three running backs in the entire sport who currently have a contract that guaranteed them more than $22.2 million, only two of which (Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry) reached that mark in full guarantees.