October 4, 2026 | NFL Commentary
The Las Vegas Raiders can be headed in the right direction while still having questions at running back. Ashton Jeanty is one of them.
I see a player with the potential to be good to very good. I haven't seen enough to call him generational. When a team selects a running back sixth overall, that distinction matters.
At that price, you're expecting someone who changes the offense. Hall of Fame potential is the kind of ceiling that makes the investment appealing, even if no draft slot guarantees that career. Becoming a useful starter alone won't settle whether the Raiders made the right choice.
The Production Hasn't Matched the Expectations
Jeanty finished his rookie season with 975 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns on 266 carries, averaging 3.7 yards per attempt. His receiving contributions mattered, too: 55 catches, 346 yards and five touchdowns. That deserves recognition, but the rushing efficiency remains a concern.
His first four games this season tell a similar story:
| Opponent | Carries | Rushing yards | Yards per carry | Rushing TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | 23 | 102 | 4.4 | 0 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 21 | 48 | 2.3 | 0 |
| New Orleans | 19 | 56 | 2.9 | 0 |
| Kansas City | 15 | 58 | 3.9 | 0 |
| Total | 78 | 264 | 3.4 | 0 |
Since his 102-yard opener, Jeanty has gained 162 yards on 55 carries. That's 2.9 yards per attempt over three games. The opportunities have been there. The consistent rushing production hasn't.
Where Is the Burst?
My concern goes beyond the box score. When Jeanty runs wide, I don't consistently see the acceleration I associate with elite backs.
An exceptional runner can turn a brief opening into a major gain. He reaches the edge before pursuit closes, accelerates through a crease and makes a defender pay for taking the wrong angle. Those are the moments I'm looking for from Jeanty.
This is my assessment of what I've watched, rather than a claim backed by a measured speed comparison. But it's why the generational label feels premature.
Poor blocking can absolutely suppress a talented runner's production. The offensive line deserves scrutiny. So do the play calls and Jeanty's health. Still, those explanations don't establish that he's an exceptional back. His individual ability has to show up as well.
A Promising Rebuild Still Needs Answers
In my view, the Raiders have one of the most promising rebuilding situations in the league. Klint Kubiak gives them a coach to build around, and Kirk Cousins gives them the right bridge quarterback. Whether their young quarterback becomes the franchise answer remains an open question.
That foundation should give Las Vegas room to evaluate Jeanty without making his draft position the deciding factor in every backfield decision.
If his production doesn't improve, I think a trade could eventually become a possibility. That's a prediction, not a report that the Raiders are shopping him. Competition for carries would be a sensible first step, and any trade would need to improve the team through the return and the replacement plan.
Jeanty doesn't need to become a Hall of Famer to help the Raiders win. But he does need to show more before they treat him as the unquestioned foundation of their running game.
The jury is still out. Good to very good is where I see him today. Generational is something he still has to prove.
Sources: Raiders.com: Ashton Jeanty player biography; Raiders.com: Week 4 coverage.
