Identifying the Raiders’ Most Impactful Rookie

The Las Vegas Raiders’ 2025 season has officially concluded. This has been a nightmare season for Las Vegas, but one that taught them a valuable lesson. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and in a season where the AFC was wide open, they couldn’t even muster up a fighting attempt at the postseason.

They now hold the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. It’s crucial they make the right decision with that pick, as it will determine how successful they are to finish off the 2020’s. What can they learn from their 2025 draft class to make sure they make the right decision?

Most Impactful Rookie

Ben Cooper writes for Pro Football Focus, and he wrote an article breaking down each team’s most impactful rookie this season. For the Raiders, Ashton Jeanty may not have had the rookie season they were hoping for, but there’s no denying the impact he had on their offense.

“No rookie would have been able to singlehandedly salvage the Raiders’ woeful 2025 season, although the weight of the world was placed on Jeanty’s shoulders to do so at the beginning of the campaign. Jeanty endured an overwhelmingly disappointing year, and yet, he was still the most impactful Las Vegas rookie”, said Cooper.

Jeanty finished his rookie campaign with less than 1,000 yards rushing, but had more than that number in total yards of offense. He had ten total touchdowns, and despite playing behind one of the worst offensive lines, he still managed to put himself in rare air.

“Only James Cook, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jonathan Taylor and Bijan Robinson forced more missed tackles, putting the No. 6 overall pick in excellent company. He fought through poor offensive line play, generating just 0.6 yards before contact  — the third-worst average among running backs with at least 100 carries”.

Jeanty may not have actualized the Offensive Rookie of the Year potential he had at the beginning of his career, but anyone who watched a Raiders game knew that he was special. His jump cuts, speed, and vision are all things that he showed flashes of eliteness in. Those are things that can’t be coached, but what can be coached is the scheme in which the players are responsible for blocking for him.

Pete Carroll is gone, and his son was the offensive line coach. He was in charge of puzzling decisions that actively made their offensive line worse, like refusing to play their rookie guards. Jeanty’s offensive line will improve, and he will be one of the best running backs in the NFL next season, mark my words.

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