Oakland Raiders: Instant grade and analysis of Josh Jacobs

The Oakland Raiders selected Alabama running back Josh Jacobs with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Here are our initial grade and analysis of the pick.

With the second of their three first-round picks, the Oakland Raiders opted to address the offensive side of the ball with the selection of running back Josh Jacobs.

Following the expected departures of Marshawn Lynch and Doug Martin, the Raiders evidently needed to reshape their entire backfield heading into 2019. The team did just that signing former New York Jets running back Isaiah Crowell and continued that restructuring with the Jacobs pick.

Jacobs spent three years at Alabama but failed to see significant playing time due to a host of current and future NFL running backs also on the roster. Still, Jacobs made the most of his touches averaging a stellar 5.9 yards per carry during his tenure with the team.

The Alabama product became more of a regular fixture in the offense in 2018 totaling 640 yards and 11 touchdowns on just 120 carries. His performance in the SEC Championship Game really put him on the map as a legitimate first-round prospect and netted him MVP honors in the game.

But was this pick the right move for the Raiders? Let’s jump in and find out.

National Reaction

The Verdict

In one of the more widely expected moves of the first round, the Raiders selection of Josh Jacobs proved many people’s mock drafts right, including our very own Golden Gate Sports one.

Cheap plug aside, Jacobs gives Oakland an instant-impact No. 1 running back to lead the Raiders backfield from Week 1. While Crowell and top rotational backs Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington are fine complementary pieces, none of them are on the level of Jacobs as a player.

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The Bama product lacks breakaway speed but more than makes up for it with every other aspect of his game. Jacobs has fantastic ball-carrier vision seemingly always finding the open hole, even when it isn’t exactly apparent. That said, he’s far from hesitant and will burst into daylight if given the opportunity and the appropriate blocking up front.

Jacobs has a low center of gravity and runs with great balance. Rarely does he go down on first contact, instead bouncing off would-be tacklers with his power and evading defenders with his elusiveness. His pass-catching and blocking capabilities make him a true three-down back at the next level, whether the Raiders intend to use him in that way or not.

Richard should still remain the primary third-down option but the role that this pick leaves for Crowell is unknown. After all, Crowell isn’t exactly the best change-of-pace running back and doesn’t really have any areas where he excels more than Jacobs.

Given that the Raiders did sign him to just a one-year, $1 million contract, they should have no difficulties simply cutting ties with him if they so desire. Crowell would carry a dead cap hit of just $300,000 making it more than feasible.

Either way, Jacobs is a very solid talent who should step in and immediately bring instant-impact and stability to the team’s backfield. While they could have gone in a different direction with this pick, there’s a very good chance Raiders fans are counting their blessings by the end of this upcoming season.

The Raiders were able to land the best running back in the draft class and fill a position of need in the process. Sounds like a good pick to me.

Final Grade: B+