JalenRichard has been a big part of the Raiders offense since coming into the league, and the team was right to bring him back in 2020.
The Raiders franchise may not have drafted Jalen Richard out of Southern Mississippi back in 2016, but since he came into the league as an undrafted rookie, he has become a big part of the organization. On Wednesday, the franchise made sure he would be coming with them to Sin City, locking him up on a two-year extension worth $7 million according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.
For Richard, this is a nice payday, as the contract calls for him to earn up to $8 million over the course of the deal due to incentives. In addition, $4.6 million of it is guaranteed, and every penny of this contract has been well-earned.
Richard is mostly used as a third-down back for the Raiders, and heading into 2020, he figures to be the backup to star running back Josh Jacobs. As a rookie in 2019, Jacobs set the NFL on fire, and was unfortunately snubbed for the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, despite setting a Raiders rookie record for rushing yards with 1,150.
Heading into the offseason, both Richard and DeAndre Washington were entering free agency, and both backup running backs came into the league at the same time, and made their mark with the franchise. For Richard, he has become one of the better pass-catching backs in the league, and in 2018, he hauled in 68 passes for 607 yards.
The speedy Richard has not missed a game since making his NFL debut back in 2016, and while his carries have gone down every season, his impact on the team has not. In 2020, he will not only spell Jacobs, but also be used as a return man, an area where he has shown growth over the past few seasons.
Overall, this was a great signing for the Raiders, as Richard brings a lot to the table, and comes at a pretty cheap price tag.
Despite the fact the Raiders brought back Richard, that does not necessarily close the door on fellow veteran DeAndre Washington being brought back for 2020. Both men had their roles in the Raiders offense last season, but with Jacobs likely adding to his role this season, Washington could end up being the odd man out.