The Las Vegas Raiders made a bold statement during the 2025 NFL Draft when they used significant draft capital to land running back Ashton Jeanty. After revamping the quarterback room and bringing in a new head coach and offensive coordinator, the front office clearly believed Jeanty was the final piece to jumpstart a new era in Vegas.
And to be fair, the flashes have been there. Jeanty’s rookie season has featured moments that make you sit up and say, “This kid’s got it.” But those moments have too often been buried beneath the weight of a struggling offense, inconsistent play-calling, and a patchwork offensive line that’s done him few favors.
The Raiders hoped a midseason switch at offensive coordinator-from Chip Kelly to Greg Olson-would breathe life into the offense. The idea was that a more traditional scheme might unlock Jeanty’s skill set. But in Week 13’s 31-14 loss to the Chargers, that spark never really materialized.
Still, the talent is undeniable. Former NFL defensive back and current analyst Jason McCourty, who was on the broadcast for the game, summed it up as well as anyone could: “You see the explosion and elusiveness. He’s had it all day; it just hasn’t shown up in the stats.”
That’s the Ashton Jeanty experience in a nutshell. If you’re watching the games, you see a player who rarely goes down on first contact and constantly creates something out of nothing. But if you’re just looking at the box score, you might miss the bigger picture.
Before the Chargers game, Jeanty had racked up 604 rushing yards on the year-an impressive 515 of those coming after contact. That’s not just a stat; it’s a statement. It tells you this rookie isn’t being gifted easy yards-he’s earning every inch, often with defenders draped all over him.
And it’s not just on the ground. Jeanty’s also added 221 receiving yards, but here’s the kicker: 333 of those came after the catch.
That’s not a typo. He’s gaining more yards after the catch than he has total receiving yards, which speaks volumes about how often he’s catching passes behind the line of scrimmage and still turning them into positive plays.
In other words, he’s manufacturing offense almost entirely on his own.
In Week 13, Jeanty’s stat line wasn’t anything to write home about-15 carries for 31 yards, six catches for 30 more. But context matters.
Behind what might be one of the worst offensive lines in recent memory, those numbers don’t tell the full story. The tape shows a player fighting for daylight on every touch, often making defenders miss in the backfield just to get back to the line of scrimmage.
McCourty’s praise wasn’t just lip service. As a Super Bowl champion and longtime NFL vet, he knows what real talent looks like, and he made it clear: Jeanty has it. Even if the scoreboard and stat sheet don’t reflect it yet, the eye test says this rookie is the real deal.
For Raider Nation, that’s the silver lining in a season that’s had more downs than ups. The offense may still be a work in progress, but Ashton Jeanty is giving fans a reason to believe there’s something worth building around. Once the Raiders figure out how to support him-whether that means fixing the offensive line, stabilizing the play-calling, or simply giving him more consistent touches-he’s got the tools to become a nightmare for opposing defenses.
Right now, Jeanty’s not just running the ball-he’s surviving. But if the Raiders can put the right pieces around him, he won’t just survive. He’ll thrive.