Josh Jacobs is in Green Bay for a reason.
While a member of the Oakland Raiders/Las Vegas Raiders, Jacobs proved that he has the talent to be one of the best backs in the NFL — if not the best. After being selected No. 24 overall in the 2019 draft by the Raiders, Jacobs went on to rush for 5,545 yards and 46 touchdowns in five seasons while adding 197 receptions and 1,448 yards a receiver.
His All-Pro season, 2022, saw him rush for 1,653 yards and 12 touchdowns while adding another 400 yards through the air, and that's the player the Packers believe they'll have for the next few seasons. That's why they gave him a four-year, $48M contract this offseason and moved on from Aaron Jones in the process.
Jacobs is expected to play a huge role in Green Bay's offense moving forward, but for him, it's not going to just be about collecting stats.
There's more at stake for the 223-pound ball carrier.
"I can honestly say that as I'm getting older and I'm playing longer, I have a real goal of legacy," he recently told NFL Network insiders Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero. "I think that's a big thing – wanting to play in important games, play in the playoffs, make a deep run and, you know, play in that game if we get there. That's big for me. I think that's the most important thing."
If Jacobs can remain healthy and give Green Bay's offense a true dual threat out of the backfield, this is a unit that could end up being one of the best in the league. Jordan Love proved that he has what it takes to be "the guy" in the post-Aaron Rodgers era last season by leading the Packers to a resounding playoff victory on the road against the Dallas Cowboys and a near win against the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round.
Love has superstar potential and a budding young receiving core that features talent and depth at wideout in Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed as well as some up-and-coming talent at tight end in Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft.
Throw in a healthy Jacobs as the high-volume bruiser out of the backfield and this is an offense that has Super Bowl potential. If newly minted defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley can quickly figure things out on the other side of the ball — look out for the Packers.
In the meantime, though, Jacobs is locked in and ready to play his role.
"Every time I think about (Green Bay), I just think football; I think about locking in, I think about perfecting my craft. Hopefully, everything I do this year and (have) been doing this offseason pays off," he said.
