Raiders selected Alabama RB Josh Jacobs with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Jacobs is the first back off the board with the pick the Raiders got in the Khalil Mack deal last summer. Jacobs (5’10/219) operated as Derrick Henry’s lightly-used complement as a freshman, battled hamstring injuries and focused on special teams as a sophomore, then rushed 120 times for 640 yards (5.3 YPC) and 11 TDs as a 2018 junior, also catching 20 balls. Jacobs gained a first down or hit pay dirt on a nation-best 41% of his runs last season and averaged over 4.07 yards after contact per carry. Jacobs ran 4.60/4.63 at the Crimson Tide’s initial Pro Day but improved to 4.52 in later tests. Although Alabama’s competing talent and some bad fortune curbed Jacobs’ bulk production, his tape is starting caliber with an ascending all-around skill set as a pro-ready pass blocker, promising receiver, and fierce inside runner who maximizes yardage. He couldn't have asked for a better landing spot in terms of year-one production potential after Marshawn Lynch retired.
Apr 25, 2019, 9:00 PM