Just as it seems like there's potential to keep the running back, Josh Jacobs with the Raiders, there's a report suggesting that Jacobs may be interested in going to a different team. There has been talk about possible teams he could go to, but this time it's a bit different—a player who has the same agent as Jacobs mentioned that there is 'mutual interest' between Jacobs and the Chicago Bears.
The information comes from the “Chicago Bears Podcast” from ESPN 1000 in Chicago, where former Bears fullback Jason McKie talked about the Bears’ offseason. McKie happens to be represented by agent Chad Wiestling, who also represents Jacobs.
During a casual conversation, McKie learned that the Bears and Jacobs have shown interest in each other.
“With Josh Jacobs, right, I know, my agent has Josh Jacobs as well,” McKie said on the podcast. “And he is a guy, I texted my agent and said, ‘Hey, he’d look great in a Bears uniform.’ He’s like, ‘Hey, there’s mutual interest.’ That’s what he told me. There’s mutual interest. So I’m not gonna say the Bears are going to go out and put all their chips in and sign Josh Jacobs but from my understanding, from my source (there’s interest).”
The Bears may have to offer a big contract to get Jacobs from the Raiders. It's clear that Jacobs will explore opportunities in free agency, but it's also clear that Raiders coach Antonio Pierce wants to keep him. When Pierce took over the role after Josh McDaniels was fired last October, he made it a priority to adjust the offense for Jacobs.
The seriousness of the Bears potentially taking Jacobs from the Raiders is up for debate. Jacobs will certainly consider his options in free agency, but it's also obvious that Raiders coach Antonio Pierce wants to keep him. After assuming the role when Josh McDaniels was fired, Pierce made it a priority to rework the offense for Jacobs.
Jacobs is expected to be expensive, even in a market where running backs are not in high demand. Spotrac estimates his value at a three-year, $31 million contract , while Pro Football Focus believes it would be around three years and $33 million.
Perhaps the Bears would be willing to pay that amount, or even more. McKie reiterated that the information he received is legitimate.
“I have a source that actually represents Josh Jacobs,” he said. “It ain’t no damn source that I made up so I can put on Twitter and just say the Bears are gonna sign Josh Jacobs from a source. I am telling you, it comes from a credible source, my agent who represents Josh Jacobs and said there is mutual interest. I know from his standpoint, Josh would love to be in a Bears uniform.”
Is Josh Jacobs Worth a Big Contract?
One of the main questions about Jacobs’ future isn't just how Pierce values him, but also how new Raiders general manager Tom Telesco values him. It's likely that there's a difference of opinion there, especially with other available running backs being affordable.
It was a significant drop for Jacobs last year, going from leading the NFL in rushing yards with 1,658 in 2022 to only 805 yards in 2023, which ranked 25thth in the league. This will likely affect his cost in free agency this offseason, especially after he skipped last year’s training camp and only received a small increase from the franchise tag the Raiders had placed on him before training camp.
It will not help Jacobs' situation with Telesco considering that Jacobs missed the last four games of the season due to a bothersome quad injury, and during that time, a second-year player performed better than him, gaining 397 yards and averaging 4.7 yards per carry. It is not ideal to enter free agency when your $1 million backup has outperformed you in a significant number of games. Zamir White outplayed him, totaling 397 yards in those four games, and averaging 4.7 yards per carry. It’s not good to head into free agency with your $1 million backup having outdone you in a fairly significant sample size.
Maybe the Raiders will not prevent Jacobs from wearing a Bears jersey.
