NFL insider Ian Rapaport has dismissed the notion that the Las Vegas Raiders could be trying to trade running back Josh Jacobs this preseason. 

Josh Jacobs has certainly been a productive member of the force during his time with the Las Vegas Raiders, having put up two straight 1,000+ yard seasons during his first two campaigns in the NFL, and even last year managing to put up 872. 

All those runs have seen him produce 28 touchdowns and he’s also shown flashes in the passing game too, picking up 752 yards off of 107 catches. A first-round draft pick in 2019, the Raiders took him using a pick that saw All-Pro linebacker Khalil Mack be sent to the Chicago Bears, so he had to work out for them, otherwise people would have thought it was a wasted pick considering who they let leave the team.

But despite these impressive numbers, there are some hints going around that Jacobs might find himself away from the team by the time the 2022 NFL season kicks off. 

What’s being said?

Writing for ProFootballTalk, Mike Florio notes that the Raiders seem to be hinting at the possibility that Jacobs won’t be a part of the team for much longer. He claims that when you consider his usage in the season-opening Hall of Fame game this past weekend - which saw him have five carries for 30 yards and two catches for 14 yards - the fact they didn’t pick up his 5th-year option, and the style of play that newly appointed head coach Josh McDaniels might install, it doesn’t look like he has much of a future in Sin City.

And off the back of his impressive start in the league, it might make sense for both parties to move him away. Jacobs get a chance to showcase his talent in a team that might use him better, and the Raiders should get a reasonable return in the form of draft picks. 

But Ian Rapaport doesn’t seem to think that is going to be the case for the 24-year-old.

Rapaport turns it down

Speaking on the NFL Network, Rapaport noted that the Raiders, despite the clues, are not in any mood to trade Jacobs at this time, noting that the team is in a ‘win now’ mentality and that it wouldn’t make sense for them to get rid of him right now, before explaining why he was used the way he was against the Jacksonville Jaguars:

Given the state of the AFC West, with the Kansas City Chiefs winning the division for the past six years, the Los Angeles Chargers on the up with Justin Hebert and the Denver Broncos adding Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson, this year is set to be a very competitive one.

So for the Raiders to trade away someone who can make an impact for them now in exchange for potentially someone else in the future, would be something of a risky move to say the least on their part.