After fielding one of the NFL’s worst rushing attacks last season, the Las Vegas Raiders are betting big on rookie running back Ashton Jeanty to bring balance back to their offense. Selected sixth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, Jeanty arrived with sky-high expectations — and he’s already making a strong impression.
Jeanty, who rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns at Boise State and was a Heisman finalist, is seen as the centerpiece of Las Vegas’ offensive reboot under new head coach Pete Carroll. His first days at the Intermountain Health Performance Center for rookie minicamp were marked not just by his talent, but by the enthusiastic welcome from second-year center Jackson Powers-Johnson.
Rookie Ashton Jeanty Already Turning Heads in Las Vegas Raiders Camp, Earning Praise from Teammates
“Everything is true about what they are saying about this guy,” Powers-Johnson told J.T. The Brick. “He is just a ball of muscle. And when I dabbed him up and gave him a hug, it was pure metal. His speed, his agility, how he likes to play — he plays fun. And I think that’s going to make him so deadly. He loves to block. That is a lineman’s dream.”
Powers-Johnson, the 2023 Rimington Trophy winner and No. 44 overall pick last year, is quickly emerging as a leader on the offensive line and believes Jeanty can thrive early. “He’s gonna have such a great year, and I’m excited to block for him,” he added.
Jeanty, for his part, was thrilled to land in Las Vegas. “The first voice I heard was [GM] John Spytek — I was happy for the great sense of relief,” he told Raiders reporter Levi Edwards.
With a revamped staff and backfield, the Raiders believe they’ve found their next great rusher — and Jeanty is already earning the locker room’s respect.