Raiders' Top Players to Consider for Franchise Tag, RFA Contract Tenders
The Las Vegas Raiders broke a decade-long streak when they used the franchise tag to retain Josh Jacobs last offseason. He became just the sixth Raider in history to receive the contract tender.
The use of the franchise tag is divisive across the league. The tag allows teams to sign one internal free agent to a one-year contract based on the position's market value relative to the cap. It's not a cheap move as the money is all guaranteed and counts against that season's cap, but it is a useful tool in the right situation.
Such a situation occurred last offseason for the Raiders who wanted to keep Josh Jacobs, but couldn't agree to a multi-year contract coming off of his epic 2022 campaign that saw him lead the league in rushing.
The tag allowed them to secure the dynamic back for at least one more season and revisit his free agency this offseason.
The franchise tag window is now open so the Raiders could decide to use it at any point now. However, they also have some decisions to make with some exclusive rights free agents, another type of tender that allows the Raiders to keep young talent on the roster.
Here's a look at one candidate for the tag and two exclusive rights free agents.
Franchise Tag: Josh Jacobs
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The Raiders don't have a lot of candidates to receive the franchise tag this offseason. The only real possibility—and it's a slim one—is going back to the well to give Jacobs another one-year tender.
The franchise tag value for running backs is projected to be $11.3 million, but tagging a player again means that the value has to be 120 percent of the previous tag so Jacobs' tag would cost around $12.1 million.
Jacobs didn't wind up actually playing on the tag. He sat out the entire preseason until he and the team agreed to an $11.8 million contract.
He didn't play up to that compensation in 2023, though. His total yardage was nearly cut in half to 1,101 total yards in 13 games. Jacobs just turned 26 so it isn't as though his age should scare the Raiders away from a two or three-year contract, but he has been banged up in just about every season.
His 2022 season is the only one in which he played every game.
If the Raiders are convinced that Jacobs can return to his 2022 form with Antonio Pierce as the head coach, then they might be willing to use the tag to extend their window to come up with a multi-year contract.
Jacobs projected market value from Spotrac is a four-year, $42.7 million contract which would pay out a $10.6 million annual average value.
Given his injury history and disappointing 2024 season, overpaying him on the tag for one year might be preferable to setting him up with a multi-year deal at that price.
ERFA Tender: iOL Jordan Meredith
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Offensive line depth has been an important piece of the puzzle for the Raiders over the last few seasons. The Raiders have had to a revolving door at a few spots along the offensive line in Vegas.
So the opportunity to keep a promising developmental prospect on the roster at a cheap price should be an attractive proposition.
They can do it by offering Jordan Meredith an exclusive rights free agent tender. The ERFA tender is a one-year contract that ensures the player is only allowed to negotiate with his current team. The tender is only for the league minimum so there's a chance the salary won't even count against the cap, which only accounts for the top 51 cap hits.
Extending that offer to Meredith is a no-brainer. Offensive linemen can often take years to develop into what they'll become at the NFL level. Meredith worked his way onto the active roster this season and played in all 17 games on special teams or offense.
Meredith logged 92 offensive snaps as a guard, but also played center in college so he brings some versatility. He logged a 60.5 grade from PFF and gave up no sacks.
The Raiders have three other interior lineman facing expiring contracts. Starters Andre James and Greg Van Roten hve expiring contracts while reserve guard Hroniss Grasu could also be on the way out.
Meredith is worth keeping around as developmental depth at the league minimum.
ERFA Tender: S Isaiah Pola-Mao
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Again, the exclusive rights free agent tender is the cheapest and easiest to apply. If the Raiders are interested in bringing back Isaiah Pola-Mao for at least one more year, it's a pretty easy decision.
The Raiders would only need to offer him a one-year contract worth the league minimum and it would prevent him from negotiating with other teams.
The decision for Pola-Mao is a little more tricky than Meredith. While the Raiders need all the offensive line depth they can get, the safety room is a little more crowded and Pola-Mao is the only free agent.
Pola-Mao is an interesting blend of size and physical tools. At 6'4", 205 pounds, he's a safety who is built like an X receiver. He found a home on the Raiders' special teams units, playing on 74 percent of the special teams snaps while moonlighting as a rotational safety on 130 defensive snaps.
Pola-Mao is still only 24 years old and put up some impressive tape when he was on the Raiders defense. He showed the ability to drive on routes as a deep safety or line up in the box as a linebacker in dime packages.
That kind of size, speed and special teams acumen is worth keeping around to develop.
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