Josh Jacobs

Career StatsB

Year	Team	GP	Yards	TD	YPC
Career		105	7,803	74	4.2
2025		15	929	13	4.0
2024		17	1,329	15	4.4
2023		13

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

This Josh Jacobs signing earns a B- CVI and represents a fair deal with slight upside for Green Bay. The Packers secured an above-average starter at $12M AAV, which sits right in the sweet spot for proven running backs who aren't quite elite but can anchor an offense. At 26, Jacobs is entering his prime years and brings the type of physical, between-the-tackles running style that should age well in Matt LaFleur's system. The contract structure is reasonably team-friendly with only $12.5M guaranteed against a $48M total, giving Green Bay flexibility to move on after two seasons if Jacobs' production declines. While $12M annually is substantial for a running back in today's market, Jacobs' track record as a former rushing champion and his ability to handle heavy workloads justifies the investment. This signing addresses Green Bay's biggest offensive weakness without breaking the bank, positioning them to complement Jordan Love's development with a reliable ground game.

Performance Analysis

Josh Jacobs, the former first-round pick out of Alabama and a seven-year NFL veteran, remains one of the more intriguing backfield talents in the league — a proven workhorse who has earned his stripes as a feature back capable of carrying an offense when healthy and supported. Now in Green Bay, Jacobs carries a B grade into the current campaign, a reflection of a player whose overall body of work is stronger than any single-season snapshot might suggest. After earning an A in 2024 — arguably the best football of his career — a modest step back to a B in 2025 is worth monitoring but hardly cause for alarm from a long-term evaluation standpoint. Among running backs with his level of experience and usage, Jacobs continues to profile as a reliable starter with legitimate upside in the right scheme. Where Jacobs truly separates himself this season is in the touchdown column — his 0.87 rushing touchdowns per game is not only well above the NFL average of 0.35 but comfortably exceeds the elite threshold of 0.65, suggesting he remains an exceptional red-zone presence and a genuine scoring threat every time he touches the ball inside the 10. His 61.9 rushing yards per game also clears the league average of 55.0, keeping him in solid standing as a volume producer. The concern, however, lies in his yards-per-carry figure — at 3.97, he's slightly below the NFL average of 4.10 and well short of the elite benchmark of 5.40, indicating some erosion in his ability to consistently generate chunk plays or create yardage after contact the way he did in his prime seasons. That efficiency dip is worth watching, particularly as his age-28 season raises natural questions about whether his burst and explosiveness are beginning to fade at the margins. Jacobs' trajectory from a C in 2023 to an A in 2024 and back to a B in 2025 tells the story of a back with real variance in his output — likely tied to scheme fit, offensive line quality, and usage volume rather than a steep decline. If the Packers can shore up their run-blocking and continue feeding Jacobs in goal-line situations, there's every reason to believe he can sustain or improve upon his current grade heading into next season. The key variable to monitor is whether his per-carry efficiency rebounds; if it does, Jacobs could quietly re-emerge as one of the better backs in the NFC.

Current Sentiment

Josh Jacobs enters the 2026 season with a B- sentiment grade that reflects growing skepticism about his durability and value proposition at $12M AAV. The veteran back finds himself in an uncomfortable spotlight as media coverage has shifted from praising his seven-year track record to questioning whether his injury-plagued 2025 campaign signals the beginning of a decline phase. Beat reporters and analysts are framing Jacobs as a question mark rather than a reliable foundation for Green Bay's ground game, with the Packers' active pursuit of draft reinforcements serving as a public vote of no confidence in his ability to carry the load. The financial scrutiny has intensified as writers struggle to justify his contract given last season's production shortfall, creating a narrative where Jacobs must prove he's still worthy of elite back money. While his established reputation provides some cushion against complete dismissal, the prevailing media tone suggests a player whose standing has shifted from franchise cornerstone to aging veteran fighting to maintain relevance in Green Bay's offensive plans.