One of the highlights of the NFL Players Association’s annual Rookie Premiere is the appearance of the league’s future stars in their full NFL uniforms for the first time.
The sixth pick in the NFL Draft on April 25, running back Ashton Jeanty was modeling the silver-and-black of the Las Vegas Raiders at this year’s event and wearing the No. 2 of his Boise State days.
“I didn’t get this for free,” Jeanty said about the number. “I had to drop a little bag.”
Jeanty dropped that “bag” on Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson. The former Auburn standout wore No. 2 for Las Vegas for the past five seasons.
Speaking with Kay Adams of FanDuel TV’s “Up and Adams” at the NFLPA Rookie Premiere, Jeanty said he made an offer to Carlson to get the No. 2.
“I gave him what I was thinking at first,” Jeanty said. “Then he came back, you know, and I’m like, ‘Hey, man, I got to do it.’ I got to drop that little bag for No. 2.’”
Jeanty would not divulge exactly how much he paid to get Carlson’s number.
“I’m going to say a car,” Jeanty said when asked what could be bought with his payment to Carlson. “Like, a nice Mercedes. You could buy, like, a Mercedes GLE.”
According to Car and Driver, the manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the Mercedes GLE ranges from $63,000 to $94,700.
“He seen that signing bonus,” Jeanty said of Carlson.
Jeanty signed a four-year, $35.896 million contract with the Raiders that included a $22.746 signing bonus.
“The good thing as well with it is some of the money is going to be given to charity,” Jeanty said.
This isn’t the first time that Carlson has changed numbers. He wore No. 8 in his first two seasons with the Raiders. When quarterback Marcus Mariota joined Las Vegas in 2020, Carlson ceded the No. 8 to him and took on the No. 2.
In 2025, Carlson will be back in No. 8 for the Raiders. After Mariota wore No. 8 for two seasons, running back Josh Jacobs had it in 2023, and when the former Alabama standout left Las Vegas in NFL free agency for the Green Bay Packers last offseason, former Homewood High School star Ameer Abdullah slipped into the No. 8 for the Raiders. Abdullah remains an unsigned free agent this offseason, opening the way for Carlson to reclaim the digit.
The No. 2 also has Alabama connections beyond Carlson with the Raiders. Quarterback JaMarcus Russell from Williamson High School in Mobile wore No. 2 for the Oakland Raiders from 2007 through 2009, and quarterback AJ McCarron from St. Paul’s Episcopal in Mobile and Alabama had the jersey in 2018.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at@AMarkG1.