Josh Jacobs' first season as a member of the Green Bay Packers could not have gone better.
Coming over from a dysfunctional Las Vegas Raiders franchise, Jacobs seamlessly fit in with his new team, providing a level of offense beyond what his predecessors were capable of. Even with a solid season of work under his belt and the fact that 2025 will be just the second of a four-year deal, it would be in the best interest of the Packers to increase Jacobs' usage and maximize the offensive output they receive.
Last season saw Jacobs score a career-high 15 touchdowns on the ground while rushing for 1,329 yards, the second-highest total of his six-year career. Jacobs was even able to add 342 yards and a touchdown on 36 receptions as a receiver in the passing game.
This was a well-rounded first season in Green Bay, but why should the Packers worry about what they may get from Jacobs in the future?
It may feel a bit premature, but age is going to be a factor from here on out when it comes to Josh Jacobs
Just after the conclusion of last season, Jacobs turned 27 years old. This is still right in the heart of the most productive parts of an NFL player's career, but things tend to get tricky for running backs around this time. This is when the running back wall comes into play.
It is generally accepted that at or close to 30 years old is when a running back has a noticeable drop in effectiveness. So, while there is a difference at 30, it is the couple of years ahead of it when small signs may show up here and there. Nothing too major, just an occasional play where something seemed off temporarily before going back to being their normal self.
There are two ways to handle this situation when it inevitably comes up. A team can ignore it and pretend nothing happened, or they can acknowledge it and act accordingly. Jacobs may not be close to hitting the running back wall just yet, but its presence is something that must be taken into account when evaluating how this team will operate offensively moving forward.
Give Josh Jacobs as many touches as he can handle, then a few more for good measure
It may be incredibly tempting for the Packers to try to push the wall back in an attempt to prolong Jacobs's effectiveness, but this will not produce the results they are seeking. Green Bay, and Jacobs, for that matter, would both be better off by increasing his usage now and leaning on him as an offensive focal point rather than him being viewed as a complementary contributor.
It sounds like Packers running backs coach Ben Sirmans agrees. According to Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Sirmans says the team won't limit Jacobs's touches this offseason.
"His quickness, cutting ability, exploding through drills, he looks better this year than last year at this time," said Sirmans.
The life of an NFL running back is not long, and when you have one as talented as Jacobs, it is best to capitalize on his most effective years while you still can. Jacobs is a game-changing back and has the ability to carry a team offensively, and could even play a key part in a deep playoff or even a Super Bowl run if given the chance to do so.
One thing is for certain: the Packers are unlikely to achieve either result if they try to unnecessarily micromanage his touches. It is a significantly better idea for the Packers to use Jacobs as much as they possibly can, rather than not doing so and wishing they did a few years down the road.