Las Vegas Raiders 2020 pre-draft position overview: Running Back

New Additions

Due to the emergence of Jacobs as one of the best backs in the league, and Richard holding firm to the third down back role, running back was not much of a priority for the Raiders in free agency. As expected, the team focused their free agent dollars on defense, splashing the most cash on the linebackers and defensive linemen.

They did however bring back a former Raider in journeyman Rod Smith who spent a few weeks with the Silver and Black in 2019. During his three game stint, Smith made no statistical contributions but the Raiders coaching staff may be intrigued by his size and strength.

Richard and Washington were both talented backs but both were of similar stature and were on the smaller side of the running back spectrum at 5’8” and 200ish lbs. While Jacobs is a bit bigger than both at 5’10”, 220, he is by no means a “big” running back.

Smith in comparison is 6’3” and nearly 240lbs so he could be utilized in short yardage and goal line situations.

Jon Gruden has always liked the option of having a bigger back and utilized the likes of Mike Alstott, Zack Crockett, and Tyrone Wheatley to great effect in the past. The Raiders utilized fullback Alec Ingold as a short yardage back but a beefy backfield of Ingold and Smith could be devastatingly effective in such situations.

DeAndre Washington, as predicted by many, will not be making the move to Las Vegas and will instead be making his way to Kansas City. This gives the Raiders a backfield trio of Jacobs, Smith, and Richard but there is certainly room for one more.