It’s been a rollercoaster ride for Ashton Jeanty in his NFL rookie season with the Las Vegas Raiders. The Silver and Black standout will look to end the campaign on a positive note in Week 18 against the Kansas City Chiefs and then head into the offseason and prepare for Year 2.
Heading into the final game of the 2025 season against the Chiefs, Jeanty has had 240 carries for 888 yards and has scored 10 touchdowns in 16 games this season, per StatMuse.
Nonetheless, before Jeanty can begin thinking about what he needs to do to improve and build on his rookie season, the Las Vegas standout reflected on Year 1 and the lessons it taught him.
“Biggest surprise I’d probably say how everybody talks about how fast the game is, but really I knew it was faster, but I didn’t expect it to be that much faster,” Jeanty said in a video posted by the Raiders on January 2. “I feel I’m used to it now for sure. I think getting over that hump was probably the biggest thing. I’m excited for what the future holds.”
Moreover, Jeanty spoke about which aspect of his game has improved since he entered the NFL.
“I would say like pass protection, getting better at that, being able to really protect the quarterback, and just how hard I play, the effort, the preparation I bring every week,” Jeanty added. “Sometimes that doesn’t always bring results, but you just got to keep working.”
Raiders’ Ashton Jeanty Looks to Improve for Year 2
Jeanty looks like he will fall short of hitting the 1,000-yard rushing mark with one game left. As a result, the Raiders’ rookie outlined his plan for the offseason to ensure he returns a better version of himself for Year 2 in the NFL.
“I plan to really give my body some rest, recover,” Jeanty said. “I’ve been playing football for a while, you know what I am saying? Coming straight in from college to rookie year. And then I think just all the little, little things, little nuances of the game, continuing to learn more about defenses and what they’re doing, the structures, all that.
“Just building my IQ of the game. The physical is the physical. Obviously, there isn’t really much stronger, faster I want to get at this point. It’s all neck up, just mental, IQ things.”
Raiders Could Have a Franchise QB for Ashton Jeanty
Las Vegas have the inside track of securing the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. All the Raiders need to do to clinch is lose to the Chiefs, and they will be selecting at the top of the draft board. Moreover, the Silver and Black will have the opportunity to draft Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza if they can secure the No. 1 pick.
On January 1, ESPN’s college football insider Pete Thamel reported that the Indiana star is expected to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft after his season is over.
“The widespread expectation in the NFL is that Mendoza is going to go pro after the season,” Thamel said. “He obviously just won the Heisman Trophy. To replace him, I’ve been told Indiana is expected to target Josh Hoover, the former TCU quarterback.”
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