Jakob Johnson has found a new club in the NFL. The Stuttgart native will be playing for the Las Vegas Raiders in the new season. A deal that makes sense. Especially as the German will be meeting an old acquaintance in “Sin City”.

Munich/Las Vegas – The contrast could not be greater. From the very tranquil, almost sleepy “nest” of Foxborough in the US state of Massachusetts to “Sin City”, the gambler’s paradise in the Nevada desert, the city where the lights shine and flash colourfully 24 hours and 365 days a year.

Elvis Presley grew up there, as did the “Rat Pack” consisting of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin.

And now the German NFL star Jakob Johnson is setting out to find his fortune in Las Vegas and to win over the city. The New England Patriots are history for the Stuttgart native, and for the coming year only the Las Vegas Raiders will count for the fullback in the NFL.

After the Patriots decided not to offer Johnson a new contract, the 27-year-old became a free agent. And that’s when the Raiders made their move. Johnson receives a one-year contract in Las Vegas.

Deal makes sense for Johnson

It’s a deal that makes perfect sense. Because Johnson will meet his old offensive coordinator and current new Raiders head coach, Josh McDaniels, on the turf in “Sin City.” And he obviously knows what he has in the German.

Last season, Johnson played a total of 323 snaps for the Patriots under head coach Bill Belichick and his OC and “old acquaintance” McDaniels, and 374 the year before. In addition, the fullback was also regularly used on special teams.

The variability personified

Foxborough officials repeatedly raved about Johnson’s work ethic, attitude and unbridled willingness to learn. The Patriots’ decision to let him go has left many Pats fans scratching their heads in disbelief.

After all, Johnson was always useful during his time in Foxborough, no matter what position he played. He was the personification of variability in the Patriots’ roster.

And that’s exactly what the Raiders expect from him in Las Vegas. Because: the franchise let their actual, long-time fullback Alec Ingold go just like the Patriots let Johnson go. Ingold is now playing for the Miami Dolphins, so the starting fullback position is vacant – and that’s where the German comes into play.

Great Starter Chances

“ESPN” lists Johnson in the current depth chart of the Raiders at the fullback position consequently as a starter. His competitor behind him: Sutton Smith. However, the 25-year-old only played in eight games last season.

This was partly because Ingold injured his knee in week 10 and was out for the rest of the season. Nevertheless, full confidence in a player certainly looks different. And with Ingold leaving at the same time, Johnson’s chances of being a starter should have not only become realistic, but exorbitant.

However, Ingold had interpreted his position with the Raiders somewhat differently than Johnson most recently did with the Patriots. The German had mostly blocked on offence and caught a ball here and there – once it was even enough for a touchdown – but he was not really involved in the offensive game more than that.

Johnson can take the next step

It was a different story for Ingold in Las Vegas. Not only did he block, but quarterback Derek Carr often used him as a ball carrier or catcher. Johnson certainly has some catching up to do here – and a great opportunity to develop and take the next step under McDaniels.

The will and the potential is definitely there in Johnson.