The Green Bay Packers are making a significant addition to their roster by acquiring one of the most sought-after running backs in the market. The team is poised to sign Josh Jacobs, formerly of the Las Vegas Raiders, to a contract. The details of Jacobs’ agreement with the Packers have yet to be disclosed. This move cannot be formalized until the commencement of the new league year on Wednesday, March 13.
This acquisition may initially come as a surprise to some, but the Packers have been on the lookout for a top-tier running back to enhance their backfield for quite some time. During the previous summer, amidst a contract dispute with the Colts, the Packers expressed interest in Jonathan Taylor. However, a deal did not materialize at that time. Now, with the addition of Jacobs, the Packers have secured a premier running back.
Following the agreement with Jacobs, NFL Media has reported that the Packers will be releasing veteran Aaron Jones, who was under contract through the next season and was in negotiations for a new deal. These discussions have since fallen through, leading to his release. Jacobs’ arrival might also signal the end of A.J. Dillon’s tenure with the team, as he is currently a free agent.
Jacobs has spent his entire NFL career with the Raiders, having been selected with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft from Alabama. He quickly became a key player in their offense, surpassing a thousand scrimmage yards in each of his five seasons with the team and rushing for over a thousand yards in three of those seasons. This includes the 2022 season, where Jacobs led the NFL in rushing (1,653) and total yards from scrimmage (2,053).
In the last season alone, Jacobs rushed for 805 yards and scored six touchdowns in just 13 games. He also caught 37 of his 54 targets for 296 yards.
Jacobs was ranked as the No. 24 overall free agent on CBS Sports senior NFL analyst Pete Prisco’s Top 100 list.