The Las Vegas Raiders made it clear during the 2025 NFL Draft that they wanted a franchise-changing running back. By selecting Boise State star Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 overall pick, the organization signaled an intent to build its offense around the ground game. Now, before Jeanty has even played a regular-season snap, one respected analyst believes he could join one of the NFL’s most exclusive clubs — and break a record that has stood for over four decades.
NFL.com’s Jeffri Chadiha boldly predicted that Jeanty will rush for 2,000 yards in his rookie campaign. That mark has been reached only nine times in league history, with Saquon Barkley being the most recent to do so in 2024. No rookie has ever cracked that barrier. To do so, Jeanty would need to surpass Eric Dickerson’s rookie rushing record of 1,808 yards, set in 1983.
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Ezekial Elliot came the closest to beating Dickerson’s mark in 2016 when he rushed for 1631 yards.
“Jeanty should be a heavy favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year, given the situation he’s walking into in Las Vegas,” Chadiha wrote. “Head coach Pete Carroll is going to do what he always does — which is run the football like crazy — and Jeanty is a three-down back built exactly for this type of approach.”
It’s not just the volume of carries that makes Jeanty intriguing, but his proven production. In 2024, he led college football with 2,601 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns, averaging 7.0 yards per carry. His combination of speed, power, and durability makes him a natural fit for the punishing, run-first philosophy Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly plan to implement.
Las Vegas’ 2024 rushing attack was among the NFL’s least productive, with Alexander Marrison leading the team at just 420 yards. That leaves a massive opportunity for Jeanty to shoulder the workload immediately. Raiders insiders have already noted his improved pass protection and his determination to embrace every facet of the pro game.
The history Jeanty is chasing is no small feat. Names like Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis, Adrian Peterson, and Derrick Henry define the 2,000-yard fraternity. To not only join them but to do so as a rookie would instantly place Jeanty among the most impactful first-year players in league history.
Of course, questions remain about durability and how defenses will key on him with a young supporting cast. But if Carroll delivers on his reputation for a run-heavy system, and Jeanty continues to showcase the explosiveness that defined his college career, the rookie running back could very well rewrite the record books in 2025.