Reigning NFL rushing champion Josh Jacobs and the Las Vegas Raiders find themselves in a contract stalemate with just a few days to go before the deadline for him to sign an extension.

Jacobs, 25, saw the franchise tag placed on him back in March. Said tag is worth $10.09 million for the 2023 season. The former first-round pick has yet to sign the tender and will be a hold out from training camp later this month unless he comes to terms with the Raiders on an extension ahead of Monday’s deadline.

Coming off a career-best performance, the former Alabama star has been pretty active on social media during the offseason. It’s clear that he wants a new contract that will give him some long-term security in the form of guaranteed cash. It does not look like that will come to fruition.

There are several reasons why the Raiders need to bite the bullet and hand Jacobs an extension. However, there are also several reasons why general manager Dave Ziegler and Co. have to seriously consider a trade over the weekend. Here’s why.

Josh Jacobs does not have a long-term future with the Las Vegas Raiders

This is the most obvious indicator. Vegas’ brass did not pick up the fifth-year option on Jacobs’ contract during the 2022 offseason. It was the first major decision Ziegler and head coach Josh McDaniels made after being hired from the New England Patriots.

“(Saquon) Barkley getting a deal could make it more likely that Jacobs gets one, too. But McDaniels has engaged in a lot of roster turnover since he got to Vegas, indicating that he didn’t love what was in place before he got there. I would not be at all surprised to see the Raiders go with Option 3 on Jacobs and do nothing.”- Dan Graziano on Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs

Now that it’s increasingly unlikely Barkley will get a new deal from the New York Giants ahead of Monday’s deadline, the Jacobs’ situation is not on good footing. Graziano is also right in that the Raiders have engaged in wholesale roster turnovers since the firings of former head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock. In short, the tag could be a mere one-year band-aid for the Raiders.