There’s been a lot of data compiled about the dubious decision to draft a running back in the top half of the first round, and the Las Vegas Raiders made a significant contribution this year.
In 2024, the Raiders finished last in the league in rushing with just 1,357 yards, and their average per carry of 3.57 yards was also last, according to an article written by Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. As a result, the Raiders made former Boise State star running back Ashton Jeanty the sixth pick of the draft, hoping the that Jeanty would revitalize their running game.
It hasn’t happened. The Raiders have 1,199 yards rushing going into their season finale against the Kansas City Chiefs, and that numbers is again last in the league. They also rank last in yards per carry at 3.56, so there's been no real change there, either.
So what happened? We all know the story, more or less. The Raiders lost left tackle Kolton Miller early on to a high ankle sprain, and a subsequent MRI revealed a hairline fracture. After that the line fell apart, and so did Jeanty’s production.
This scenario once again reveal how foolish it is to draft a running back without a line to open holes for him, and quarterback Geno Smith has paid the price as well. A coaching change will surely follow, regardless of what happens tomorrow against the Chiefs, and the Raiders will once again start over.
Jeanty has shown flashes, however. He broke out for several big plays against the Houston Texans in a game the Raiders nearly won, and he’s become a reliable option in the passing game. Get him out in space often enough, and the Raiders might have something.
His overall numbers include carrying the ball 240 times for 888 yards and five touchdowns. But Jeanty has been solid, not spectacular, according to Smith, who added that the entire rest of the Raiders team combined has just 97 carries for 311 yards and zero touchdowns.
The resurgence won't happen under Carroll, of course. He overestimated the strength of the this roster, especially in the offensive line, and the lack of weapons on offense became palpable once tight end Brock Bowers went out with a knee injury.
The Raiders situation has now become a full rebuild, and many of the draft projections have the Raiders taking a quarterback. This would be almost as foolish as taking a running back without an offensive line to protect him, and a rebuilt offensive line might help Jeanty and the Raiders slowly climb out of the basement with their rushing yards as they use the draft to rebuild their roster.