Ashton Jeanty is a star. But even stars need protection.
The Las Vegas Raiders canât afford to run their brightest young weapon into the ground.
While most offseason chatter in Silver & Black circles around quarterback and offensive line â and rightfully so â new head coach Klint Kubiak just made something crystal clear:
The backfield needs help.
And not just depth.
A true complementary running back is a must.
Jeanty Canât Do It Alone
Ashton Jeanty, the sixth-overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, proved heâs a legitimate three-down back. He handled 266 carries as a rookie, showing versatility as a runner, receiver, and protector.
Kubiak loves what he sees.
âHeâs a three-down back⊠run the football, catching it, protecting â if youâre going to be on the field on all three downs you have to do all three of those.â
But hereâs the problem:
Jeanty didnât have a wingman.
Behind him? A trio of Raheem Mostert, Zamir White, and Dylan Laube combined for just 41 carries all season. Thatâs not a rotation. Thatâs a cameo.
And Mostert (34) and White are unrestricted free agents.
Kubiak isnât pretending this is sustainable.
âWe definitely want to have a two-man show⊠Itâs a long season. You donât want to put all the carries and targets on one guy.â
Translation: 266 carries in Year 1 is a warning sign, not a blueprint.
Free Agency: The Splash vs. The Smart Play
The biggest name on the market? Kenneth Walker III.
Kubiak knows him well from Seattle. Walker rushed for 1,027 yards and five touchdowns during the Seahawksâ Super Bowl season and runs with violence and burst.
But he wonât come cheap.
- Over The Cap projects ~$6.3M per year
- Spotrac pegs him closer to $9M annually
Thatâs real money â especially for a team also rebuilding its offensive line and possibly drafting a franchise quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick (hello, Fernando Mendoza).
A more Spytek-familiar option? Rachaad White.
The former Buccaneer, drafted while GM John Spytek was in Tampa Bay, posted 572 rushing yards and 218 receiving yards last season. Heâs a proven pass-catching back who could complement Jeanty without commanding top-tier money.
The Draft: Speed Kills
If Las Vegas chooses to go younger and cheaper, April offers serious intrigue.
Top prospect Jeremiyah Love is likely out of reach. But several explosive options could be available:
- Jadarian Price (Notre Dame) â Solid complementary skill set
- Mike Washington Jr. (Arkansas) â 4.33 speed at 225 pounds
- Jonah Coleman (Washington) â Compact, decisive runner
- Demond Claiborne (Wake Forest) â 4.37 burner, change-of-pace threat
Washingtonâs combine performance turned heads. A 4.33 at his size is rare. He could give Kubiak the outside speed threat defenses must account for â something Jeanty alone canât fully provide.
And Then Thereâs the Fullback
Yes. A fullback.
The Raiders have operated without one the last two seasons â a strange departure for a franchise that historically embraced the position.
Kubiak wants it back.
âIt is important⊠if you can find the right guy, he becomes a big part of your offense.â
In todayâs NFL, true fullbacks are scarce. But Kubiakâs system thrives on versatility and physicality. Adding one would signal a philosophical shift â and possibly unlock a more balanced attack.
Bigger Than Just a Backup
This isnât about spelling Jeanty for a few snaps.
Itâs about protecting the foundation of the offense.
Kubiak knows Jeanty is a building block. But he also understands that running backs donât last long when overused.
âHeâs going to be a major building block⊠but his success will be because the offensive line is blocking well, our second back is running well, the quarterback is making good decisions.â
Itâs all connected.
Quarterback. Offensive line. Running back depth.
The Raiders may hold the No. 1 pick, but if they ignore the backfield balance behind Jeanty, they risk undermining their most explosive asset.
The message from Kubiak is unmistakable:
Jeanty needs a wingman.
And Las Vegas better find one fast.
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