The Las Vegas Raiders are doing everything they can to claw their way out of the AFC West basement this offseason. The team hasn't claimed first place in the division since 2002, and they've only had two winning seasons in the 22 seasons since. The desperation is real.
The Raiders are now hoping that a completely new approach to leadership will lead to better roster-building decisions as the team aims to upend the traditional pecking order in the AFC West. While they are light years from being considered equals with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Raiders are likely hoping that adding impact talent on offense will at least make them far more competitive overall.
To that end, the Raiders are spending time with the best running back in the NFL Draft class, Ashton Jeanty. The latest report from Ian Rapoport has the Raiders visiting with Jeanty and quarterback Quinn Ewers in the days leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft.
If the Raiders wanted to get to respectability, grabbing Ashton Jeanty is a very positive step forward.
Jeanty needs no introduction for even the most casual football fan as the premiere running back in all of college football. The Boise state back led the nation with 30 touchdowns in 2024 and brings an NFL-ready skill set to the next level, which is why a running back could be in consideration for being selected at No. 6 overall, which is where the Raiders sit in the draft order.
The Raiders have already added Raheem Mostert to the mix in the backfield this offseason, but there's more than enough room for someone like Jeanty to join the mix and take over as an offensive cornerstone from his first week in the pros.
Jeanty would be an ideal addition to the Raiders' offense as they re-orient things under new head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Geno Smith. After watching Saquon Barkley make such a difference for the Eagles offense for a championship team, the NFL is likely to see a philosophical shift toward a greater emphasis on running the football in 2025 and beyond.
The Chiefs had plenty of problems with the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, and while the Raiders aren't remotely close to giving K.C. the same fits, adding Jeanty would be a very respectable move in the right direction. The truth is that no one in the AFC West would like to see Jeanty join a division rival, but that's exactly what the Raiders are setting themselves up for. Perhaps Las Vegas is finally getting its house in order after all these years.
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