Raiders Close $17,637.2 Million Candid Insight Contract Deal On An All-star player Considering…

One of the biggest decisions the Las Vegas Raiders made this offseason was not signing running back Josh Jacobs to a new contract. The former first-round pick has been the lead back for the team for five seasons and led the NFL in rushing yards just two seasons ago.

Jacobs decided to sign a four-year contract with the Green Bay Packers and doesn’t appear to regret the move. He hasn’t spoken too much about why he didn’t re-sign with the Raiders but he finally opened up about what went down.

“I never talked to the GM or none of that,” Jacobs said on the June 6 episode of the “Green Light with Chris Long” podcast. “It just was what it was. At the end of the day, I told them, ‘Look, I’ve got every Raider record since I’ve been here, basically.’ And I’m like, ‘If y’all don’t have enough respect in me to sit me down and have a conversation, then we don’t have anything to talk about.’ It’s that simple, really.”

Raiders hired Tom Telesco as general manager this offseason and he had a heavy workload as he was learning his new team. However, it’s certainly odd that he wouldn’t at least touch base with Jacobs considering his contract situation. Telesco doesn’t have a track record of paying running backs so he may have not been interested in giving the running back a new contract.

Jacobs is one of the top running backs in the NFL and hasn’t rushed for fewer than 800 yards in a season. He’s also never missed more than four games in a season so he should still have several years left of being a top running back.

With defensive linemen getting smaller and defenses using lighter boxes, running backs are becoming valuable again. Jacobs was also a team captain and beloved member of the Raiders. Whether or not the team regrets letting Jacobs walk will come down to how they replace him.

Zamir White started the final four games of last season in replacement of an injured Jacobs. He rushed for 397 yards in those four starts and the team went 3-1. If White can build off last season, the Raiders won’t miss Jacobs too much.

Zamir White Talks Finish to Last Season

White isn’t guaranteed to be the Raiders’ starting running back next season but he’s certainly the favorite. Luckily, he knows that his performance at the end of last season doesn’t guarantee anything.

“That built up a lot of confidence moving into this year,” White said of his performance over the last four games during his May 29 media availability. “But last year was last year. We’ve got to move on from that and just build off of this right now, what we’ve got going on now.

“Yeah, that’s the past.”

If White becomes the featured running back, defenses are going to start preparing for him and there’s more tape of him playing. He appears to be working hard this offseason and the Raiders are confident in him as evidenced by the fact they weren’t aggressive in adding a top running back this offseason. This could be a breakout year for the young running back.

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Huskers make two QB offers after Saturday camping

It’s never too early anymore to get a jump on QB recruiting.

Nebraska offered two quarterbacks on Saturday in separate recruiting classes. Still are both at least a couple recruiting cycles away, but the Huskers obviously liked what they saw from Jameson Purcell and Ace Amina at camp.

Purcell’s a 2027 guy and Amina a 2028 guy. Nebraska has its QBs through the 2025 class with a commitment from TJ Lateef, but everything after that is open.

Purcell is from Maine South High School in Park Ridge, Ill. As noted on Husker247 earlier this week, his family has a friendship with former Nebraska QB Fred Duda from the Devaney era, and Duda has shared his insights about NU football.

Husker running backs coach E.J. Barthel also built a good relationship with the QB while area recruiting.

“I really connected with Coach Barthel and liked what he had to say about the culture of the football program under coach Matt Rhule and how they are really raising quality young men on and off the field,” Purcell told Husker247 prior to his visit. “I also like their football tradition and they have a top ranked business school, which I plan to major in. I also like that Coach Rhule has coached in the NFL and he knows what it takes to make it to the highest level.”

The Huskers also extended a ’28 offer to Amina, who calls Waianae, Hawaii home, and is going to attend powerhouse Bishop Gorman program in Las Vegas. He’s impressed at various national showcase events for his age.

Nebraska has also extended various offers to 2026 prospects in recent weeks.

There’s also the possibility that interesting options close to home develop, with ’26 prospect Jett Thomalla among those camping in Lincoln on Friday night.

He shared some good conversation time with Husker QBs coach Glenn Thomas after the camp.

“My dad and I sat down and talked with Coach Thomas for about 45 minutes after camp,” Thomalla said. “He wanted me to know that I am one of their top priorities and he plans to come watch me on Friday nights when he is available.”

The 6-4, 185-pound Thomalla, who spoke to Mike Schaefer recently about improving as he’s put in work with Warren Academy’s John Teigland, took note of something Thomas said in the conversation after the FNL event.

“He told me to not get too caught up in the process and enjoy my last two seasons of high school football,” the quarterback said. “This summer, I’m just gonna keep focusing on being more consistent and getting faster. Our team has a lot of great opportunities in the fall.”

NU’s 2025 QB commit Lateef, meanwhile, received a good report from 247Sports analyst while Lateef was throwing at “The QB Retreat” event run by quarterback specialist Steve Clarkson.

Biggins said it appeared Lateef was working on some mechanics and had a smoother release and tighter spiral.

“His arm strength was good and his accuracy was solid as well,” Biggins wrote. “He’s a naturally strong kid, especially in his lower half  and he’s a player we have always liked for his ability to make plays outside the pocket when the pads come on. We’ll have a chance to see Lateef live once more in a few weeks at the Elite 11 Finals.”

Jim Harbaugh reportedly drawing NFL interest from Raiders, Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins are interested in Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, joining the Las Vegas Raiders as NFL teams intrigued by the idea of landing the reigning Big Ten champion, according to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, a Michigan alumnus and major donor, could try and lure Harbaugh to Miami if he’s interested, La Canfora reports through sources.

“Ross has long coveted Harbaugh and, at this stage of his life with a succession plan for ownership already in place, passing on Harbaugh might be difficult,” La Canfora wrote Saturday. “Harbaugh also played for the Bears and is well known at Halas Hall, with that franchise pondering sweeping changes and considering a multitude of former players for a multitude of roles.”

Reports surrounding the possibility of Harbaugh leaving Michigan for a return to the NFL continues to increase in the days following the Wolverines’ run to a Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff appearance this season, the veteran coach’s best at the program

Seemingly an annual talking point, the first reports linking Harbaugh to a possible return to the NFL with the Raiders came via The Athletic. Harbaugh restructured his contract at Michigan and took a pay-cut ahead of the 2021 season before taking the program to new heights with a memorable campaign.

According to The Michigan Insider, Harbaugh did not dodge the NFL question when asked by a recruit last month. The parents of the player told The Michigan Insider they had no choice but to respect Harbaugh for his honesty.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport joined The Rich Eisen Show on Friday, speculating that the rumors were more about Harbaugh seeking a pay raise, rather than having significant interest in leaving. The chatter began earlier this week, following Bruce Feldman’s report of potential interest in both the Raiders and Chicago Bears.