Alright, let’s talk about the elephant in the room—or rather, the running back in the backfield. As we gear up for Super Bowl LIX, there’s a rumble louder than the roar of the crowd: the debate over what RBs are worth. And the Green Bay Packers‘ star Josh Jacobs is straight-up using Saquon Barkley‘s recent Eagles deal as a mic drop moment. In 2024, Jacobs ranked 6th in the NFL with 1,329 rushing yards and 4th with 15 rushing touchdowns. In his 6-year career so far, he has rushed for 6,874 yards so arguably as the team’s best offensive player, what Jacobs says should carry a ton of weight.
Jacobs signed a four-year, $48 million contract with the Packers. On Wednesday, he told Fox News Digital, “C’mon, man, these guys deserve more!” He’s pointing to Barkley’s stellar first season with the Philadelphia Eagles, where Barkley galloped to 2,005 rushing yards and he became the ninth player in NFL history to reach that milestone. Barkley also led in carries (345) and yards per game (125.3). Next Gen Stats say Barkley generated +549 rushing yards over expected. “I think there’s no way it couldn’t go up, because I feel like the top seven guys right now, three of them got to get paid soon,” said Jacobs. Barkley inked a three-year, $37.75 million contract with the Eagles, including $26 million guaranteed. Is it enough?
But Josh isn’t just talking about established players. He’s looking at young guns like Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Kyren Williams. Jacobs wants teams to open the vault for these game-changers: “Even with Christian and his extension he got at the beginning of the year, I think it helps the running back market. But seeing what we did, how much we were for our teams, I think the market has to go up.”
NFL, American Football Herren, USA Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders Jan 7, 2023 Paradise, Nevada, USA Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs 28 runs the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half at Allegiant Stadium. Paradise Allegiant Stadium Nevada USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xGaryxA.xVasquezx 20230107_gav_sv5_036
Jacobs is using Barkley’s situation and his own success to make his point. Running backs are game-changing assets, he argues. It’s time for a re-evaluation. It’s a demand for respect. And it’s a signal to the Packers that the running back market is about to explode. “After the Giants declined to go the extra mile to bring him back, Barkley inked a lucrative deal with the Eagles and erupted for 2,005 rushing yards in his first season in Philadelphia,” proving his worth.
Interestingly, Jacobs also shared what he thinks the Packers need to reach the Super Bowl!
Josh Jacobs’ take on the missing “pieces” on the team
Running back Jacobs isn’t holding back on what Green Bay needs to be Super Bowl-bound in 2025. Chatting it up on February 5 at Radio Row in New Orleans on 97.3 The Game, Jacobs dropped a truth bomb: the Packers are “three pieces away” from a Super Bowl appearance. He clarified, saying those pieces could be new faces or current players stepping up their game. After a season that ended with a Wild Card loss to the Eagles, and a losing record to their own division, Jacobs knows what’s up!
So, what are these missing pieces? For starters, Jacobs believes the Packers desperately need a true No. 1 wide receiver. “We need a guy who has proven to be a No. 1 already. Someone we know is going to be a little more consistent,” the RB said. This isn’t a knock on the current WR corps, which saw solid contributions from rookies like Jayden Reed, but Jacobs is craving that consistent, established playmaker. The Packers’ offense did rank eighth in the NFL in points per game (27.1), but consistency against top teams was definitely an issue.
The good news? The Packers have plenty of cap space to make some noise this offseason. While GM Brian Gutekunst seems to think they already have some No. 1 potential on the roster, Jacobs is making it clear that proven talent is what’s needed to get over the hump. Jacobs knows big-time players shine in big-time games, and he believes the Packers need a few more to truly contend in 2025. Can they find those pieces and finally conquer the NFC North? Only time will tell!
The post Josh Jacobs Uses Saquon Barkley’s $37M to Sends Strong Contract Message to Packers Front Office appeared first on EssentiallySports.