Raiders look to add running back depth with Jeremy Hill signing

The Las Vegas Raiders are set to bolster their depth with the signing of running back Jeremy Hill.

The Las Vegas Raiders are reportedly set to add some additional depth to their backfield in the form of veteran running back Jeremy Hill.

As reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Friday, the Raiders hosted Hill on July 31st and plan to sign him to a contract pending his physical and COVID-19 test.

Hill is expected to provide additional depth behind talented top running back Josh Jacobs competing alongside the likes of Jalen Richard and rookie Lynn Bowden.

Jacobs shined in his rookie season rushing for whopping 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns n 4.8 yards per carry. But going into the offseason, it became clear that the Raiders needed to add some more effective depth behind him.

Richard was fine in his role as a third-down, pass-catching specialist, but the Raiders didn’t exactly have a proper backup to take some of the rushing load off of Jacobs’ shoulders.

DeAndre Washington wasn’t cutting it so the team opted to move on in the offseason. And while the addition of Bowden helps, the versatile Kentucky product is more of a gadget player than a true running back.

For that reason, adding an experienced between-the-tackles runner like Hill makes a ton of sense.

Signing Jeremy Hill makes a ton of sense for the Raiders.

A second-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Hill spent the first four years of his career playing with the Cincinnati Bengals. The LSU product shined in his rookie season, but his numbers fell off a little after that as he split time with Giovanni Bernard.

Hill signed on with the New England Patriots ahead of the 2018 season looking to revitalize his career, but he would play in just one game before tearing his ACL and missing the entire season.

The veteran back missed the entire 2019 season as well rehabbing from his ACL injury and it seems as though the Raiders are set to give him one final shot at NFL redemption.

Hill gives the team a true power back that they don’t really have on the roster. The Raiders did bring back Rod Smith, but the veteran tailback played exclusively on special teams last season and isn’t exactly an accomplished offensive contributor.

The Raiders now have additional depth and security behind Jacobs in case the talented young running back is sidelined for any reason.

And there’s never anything wrong with adding extra depth.