The Oakland Raiders have signed first-round draft pick Josh Jacobs, the club announced Tuesday. The signing was confirmed on Twitter by Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Journal-Review.
Per Gehlken, the deal will be worth $11.9 million.
Jacobs, a 5-foot-10, 219-pound running back, was selected 24th overall by the Raiders in the 2019 NFL Draft. An elusive, hard-running ball carrier, Jacobs appeared in 42 contests during his time at Alabama (2016-18), helping the Crimson Tide capture the 2017 National Championship.
In 2018, he totaled 15 scores, including 11 rushing, three receiving and one on special teams. His 11 rushing scores tied for seventh among the SEC and ranked third in the FBS among players with 120-or-fewer rushing attempts. He also tied for the team lead with 1,315 all-purpose yards on the season.
Jacobs was the second of Oakland’s three first-round draft picks this spring along with defensive end Clelin Ferrell and safety Johnathan Abram.
The rookie back figures to be an integral part of the Raiders' offense, with him being one of three cornerstones along with quarterback Derek Carr and receiver Antonio Brown.
“We need a feature back now, so I'm just telling you you're gonna get the opportunity of a lifetime,” head coach Jon Gruden told the rookie during the draft, per Matt Schneidman of the Mercury News.
Jacobs’ signing brings the list of unsigned first-round draft picks league-wide down to just 5: Nick Bosa (No. 2, 49ers), Quinnen Williams (No. 3, Jets), Devin White (No. 4, Buccaneers), Daniel Jones (No. 6, Giants) and Brian Burns (No. 16, Panthers).
In total, from all rounds, 11 selections remain without a contract.
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