Las Vegas Raiders: 5 offseason needs in 2020

3. Add depth at running back

Perhaps Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock knew what they were doing after all when the Raiders used the second of their three first-round picks last April on University of Alabama running back Josh Jacobs. He was part of a talented stable of performers out of the backfield for the Crimson Tide but some questioned whether he could handle a bigger workload after totaling only 251 rushing attempts in three seasons with Nick Saban’s talent-laden team.

It’s safe to say he answered any concerns with a rookie campaign that saw him rack up 242 carries for 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns. Add in 20 receptions for 166 yards and he led the Silver and Black with 1,316 total yards from scrimmage and seven total TDs.

But who will be backing up Jacobs in 2020? Recently, the club recently re-signed Jalen Richard to a two-year, $7 million contract extension (via Spotrac). But the team’s second-leading ball-carrier, DeAndre Washington, will be allowed to test the open market. He finished ’19 with 108 carries, good for 387 yards and three scores. Both he and Richard each caught 36 passes. But the former can also contribute on punt and kickoff returns.

In any case, the Raiders could use another running back to spell Jacobs. Could Isaiah Crowell, who signed with the club a year ago but missed all of this past season with an Achilles’ injury, still figure in Gruden’s plans?

Next: No. 2