The Las Vegas Raiders didn’t hesitate to take Ashton Jeanty at No. 6 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Unfortunately, the highly touted running back hasn’t looked the part in his first two games.
However, Raiders head coach Pete Carroll isn’t ready to sound the alarm.
If anything, he knows it takes time for a young player to find their footing in the league, though he admitted that the Raiders need more from the rookie.
“We’re just getting started (with Jeanty),” Carroll said. “He’s breaking into the NFL. He’s figuring it out. He’ll get more carries. We have to run the ball more effectively. We only got (68 yards in a Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers), and that’s not enough. We need more than that. We’re bringing (Jeanty) along. More will come.”
It’s never wise or fair to judge a player after a couple of NFL games.
Additionally, the Raiders’ offensive line has not done a good job of creating running lanes.
Opponents seem to be game planning to take away Jeanty and force quarterback Geno Smith to beat them with his arm, which has successfully led to wild throws and turnovers.
Some were concerned about Jeanty’s lack of high-end competition at Boise State, suggesting that his statistics were inflated.
While that’s a valid concern, he has demonstrated the technique and physical attributes necessary to be a star in the NFL.
His big game is coming sooner rather than later, perhaps in Week 3 against the Washington Commanders, and the Raiders need to keep feeding him.
Once he gets his legs under him, they will have someone to build their offense around for years to come.
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