Ashton Jeanty’s rookie season with the Las Vegas Raiders came with plenty of pressure, and now he’s making it clear how he plans to handle Year 2: less strain, more freedom.
The No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft was supposed to be a quick fix for the run game, but that was never a fair ask. Jeanty had moments like any first-year player, yet the bigger problem was the environment around him. The offensive line didn’t create much room, the passing game wasn’t helping stretch defenses, and the offense as a whole never gave him much to work with.
That’s part of why the arrival of Klint Kubiak matters so much for both the Raiders and Jeanty. But while the outside buzz has already started building around what 2026 could look like, Jeanty’s own outlook is a lot more grounded.
As he wrapped up the offseason, Jeanty answered fan questions on his YouTube page and got candid about what went wrong in 2025 and what he wants to change moving forward.
"I think I was a little bit too in my head [as a rookie]. Feeling the pressure, feeling like I needed to prove something always," Jeanty said.
"But I think this year just going out there, just having fun. Like, it's just football, you know?
[I'm] not putting too much pressure on myself and just being the best teammate that I can be. Bringing the guys together more.
Being the best version of myself so that I can make the team better. Through that, I'll accomplish all my personal goals.
I'll be able to contribute to the team's success."
That’s a big shift from the mindset that can creep in when a young player feels like he has to carry everything himself. Jeanty clearly felt that weight last season, and it’s not hard to see why. He was asked to do a lot, and too often the burden landed squarely on his shoulders.
Now, though, he says he’s done trying to force it. The new approach is about enjoying the game, leading where he can, and trusting that the rest will follow if the team starts moving in the right direction.
That’s where Kubiak’s presence comes in. The new coaching staff, the scheme, and the overall sense of credibility around the setup should make life easier for Jeanty than it was as a rookie. He won’t be asked to rescue the offense by himself, and he’s not putting that kind of expectation on himself anymore either.
For the Raiders, that’s a healthier place to start. For Jeanty, it’s a much better way to head into 2026.
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