The Las Vegas Raiders are hoping that they have their running back duo of the future with Ashton Jeanty and Mike Washington Jr. The position group has gone through some big changes over the past few years, so it would be good for the team to solidify the position.
After the Raiders decided to move on from Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs, they gave the reins to fourth-round pick Zamir White. When he relieved Jacobs in 2023, he looked like a future starter, gaining 397 yards in four starts.
However, the Raiders gave him the chance to start to be the RB1 in 2024, and he averaged 2.8 yards per carry before getting benched. He barely saw the field last season and averaged 2.7 yards per carry.
The team decided it wasn’t worth it to bring him back. Fortunately for White, he might not be done with the NFL quite yet. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, White recently had a workout with the Miami Dolphins and is expected to get more workouts in the coming weeks.
He’s not likely to get a starting opportunity, but he can still have some upside as a backup. He was a very good player at Georgia, but he hasn’t shown that he can be productive in the NFL. Either way, he’d be a low-risk, high-reward player for a team to take a chance on this offseason.
Jeanty Poised for Breakout Year
White’s problems with the Raiders the last couple of years weren’t all his fault. The offensive line and playcalling were big issues for the team. They used the No. 6 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to select Jeanty, and he could only muster 3.7 yards per carry.
With upgrades made to the offensive line and a new playcaller coming in, CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell believes that Jeanty is set for a breakout year.
“However, dysfunction outside Jeanty’s control marred his rookie year,” Podell wrote. “ESPN reported that Las Vegas’ offensive line would meet multiple times on their own with Jeanty and quarterback Geno Smith and without coaches. It was also reported that players felt offensive line coach Brennan Carroll, the son of Pete, didn’t teach players what they were supposed to be refining in individual drills in practice.
“Now, Jeanty has Klint Kubiak, the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator, as his head coach and play caller as well as 2026 first overall pick Fernando Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner and national champion out of Indiana, or veteran Kirk Cousins, as his starting quarterback. Massive upgrades at head coach and quarterback should uplift Jeanty to greater efficiency and heights in 2026.”
Raiders Will Run the Ball Early & Often
Jeanty could be the biggest beneficiary of the Kubiak hiring. He just coached Kenneth Walker to a career year that led to him getting paid in free agency.
The Seattle Seahawks also ran the ball 507 times, which was fourth-most in the NFL last season. If Jeanty is the real deal, he’s going to get his opportunities. The offensive line still has to improve, but the addition of center Tyler Linderbaum already makes the group better. This is going to be an offense that wants to run more than pass this season.
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