Oakland Raiders: What is the ceiling for running back Josh Jacobs in Year 1?

Josh Jacobs will be the Oakland Raiders feature back during the 2019 NFL season, and we take a look at how good he could possibly be.

With the 24th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders took the first running back off the board and selected Josh Jacobs out of Alabama. On Tuesday July 9th, Jacobs signed his rookie contract, a four-year, $11.9 Million deal that includes a fifth year team option.

Jacobs has already received high praise from his teammates and coaches and has been taking every opportunity to work with and learn from his mentor, veteran running back, Doug Martin. Being a first round pick certainly comes with lofty expectations, and as a first round pick at running back carries even more.

As Kay Adams of NFL Network reported on Good Morning Football, 3 of the past 4 Offensive Rookies of the year have been running backs including first round picks Saquon Barkley and Todd Gurley. While this year features an impressive rookie offensive class including Heisman Trophy winner QB Kyler Murray, WR Hollywood Brown, TE TJ Hockensen and RB Miles Sanders look for Jacobs to be a standout.

So what is the ceiling for Josh Jacobs? 24th overall pick, first running back taken in the draft, big, physical back, great hands out of the backfield, the sky truly is the limit and OROY should definitely be the conversation around the ceiling.

Head coach Jon Gruden has always been a fan of a balanced rushing and passing attack and has had a penchant for backs that have the ability to run and catch exceptionally well, Jacobs fits the mold of the prototypical running back that Gruden loves.

Barely recruited out of high school despite once putting together a 455 yard rushing, 6 touchdown game, Jacobs created an Instagram to put his game film on to generate a buzz for himself, these videos caught the eye of Alabama head coach NIck Saban.

While at Alabama, Josh Jacobs split time in a crowded, but talented backfield where he shined enough to warrant a first round pick. Jacobs is no stranger to hard work, growing up, his father was awarded custody of him when his parents ended their relationship and Jacobs and his father endured a two-week stretch in which they had to sleep in their car.

Once Jacobs’ father finally was able to move into an apartment, they were hit with another obstacle when Josh’s father lost his job and they were forced to live in motels, friends couches and anywhere they could sleep. Jacob’s father ultimately was able to secure a full-time job and home for Josh and his siblings and Josh had been offered a scholarship to the University of Alabama to which he accepted and excelled in the classroom and on the field.

Moving into another crowded backfield Josh Jacobs looks to share time with multi-faceted backs Jalen Richard and Doug Martin, a move that Jon Gruden is known for and a system that has historically fared well for the Super Bowl winning head coach.

During Gruden’s first stint in Oakland, he utilized a two back “Thunder and Lightening” set with Tyrone Wheatley and Charlie Garner, both backs who were great pass blockers and catchers and provided a balanced attack in the run game with Wheatley’s downhill punishing style complimented by Garner’s quick feet and shifty moves.

Gruden had a similar situation when he took over in Tampa Bay with Mike Alstott and Warrick Dunn, then drafting Cadillac Williams in 2005 and carried the ball 290 times for 1,178 yards his rookie year.

The Raiders as a team enter this season with high fan expectations with the additions of top offensive weapons Antonio Brown, Tyrell Williams, Ryan Grant, JJ Nelson and Josh Jacobs. Coach Gruden is certainly expected to let Derek Carr‘s arm fly a bit more this season as he has gained more comfort in the offensive system and has a vastly upgraded wide receiver corp that was decimated by injuries, suspensions and trades last season.

While Carr is expected to spread the ball around substantially through the air this season, a balanced ground attack will be necessary for the success of this team in 2019 and that ground attack will be led by Josh Jacobs.

Josh Jacobs is the true definition of the American dream, a child faced with struggle and hardships, led by a strong father who was willing to forego meals so that his children would not go starving.  Jacobs now has the ability to take all the struggle, the hardships, the uncertainty and become what some people, including myself think could be the best young running back in the NFL and certainly the best offensive rookie. At the end of the season, when the league is announcing the player awards, be sure to listen for Josh Jacobs’ name called as Offensive Rookie of the Year.