Raiders: Zamir White should push Josh Jacobs to be elite in 2022
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders have plenty of options at running back going into 2022, and new draft pick Zamir White should push the guys in front of him.
In the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders went running back, selecting Georgia star Zamir White. Known for his punishing running style, White was a bit of a shocking pick by the Silver and Black, as they already had a lot of talent at the running back position, and had some more pressing needs at that point.
Still, White is an excellent addition, as he has the size and speed to be a legitimate feature back at the NFL level. When it comes to the Las Vegas Raiders 2022 roster, he is going to have to fight his way up the depth chart, as they have a young Pro Bowl running back in Josh Jacobs, and some seasoned veterans behind him.
Now a member of the Raiders, it will be White’s job to come in and push the guys in front of him, and his addition should bring out the best in the veterans before him on the depth chart. One player, in particular, is Josh Jacobs, who had his fifth-year option declined by the team and is kind of in prove-it mode as he enters his fourth season as the starting running back for this franchise.
If White does his job, Jacobs could be in for his best season as a pro.
Raiders loaded at running back in 2022
The truth is, Las Vegas is loaded at running back in 2022, and that is a great thing for head coach Josh McDaniels. As we saw during his time in New England, McDaniels likes to feature a ton of running backs in his game plan, and he certainly has a variety of guys who do different things really well.
White is going to play as a rookie, but his impact in the long term should go way beyond the numbers he puts up in 2022.
Jacobs is a fantastic player, and if he can stay healthy, there is no reason why he cannot reach the 1,000-yard mark, and possibly earn a new contract with the Raiders. There is also the school of thought that White was drafted to be his replacement, so get ready for a battle at the running back spot this summer.