On paper, Ashton Jeanty arrived in the NFL as one of the most decorated running back prospects in recent memory. He was the do-it-all weapon out of Boise State who could run between the tackles, catch passes out of the backfield, and make defenders miss in space. The Las Vegas Raiders drafted him with the expectation that he would be a cornerstone of their offense for years to come.
Then the 2025 season happened.
The Raiders stumbled to a disappointing finish, and Jeanty's rookie year did not meet the sky-high expectations that accompanied his arrival. The running game sputtered, the offensive line dealt with injuries, and Jeanty -- like many first-year backs -- found that the jump from college to the pros was steeper than anticipated.
But if you ask Jeanty now, five months removed from the season finale and working through organized team activities (OTAs) under a new coaching staff, he will tell you something encouraging: the game has slowed down.
According to a report from ProFootballTalk on NBC Sports, Jeanty recently acknowledged that things feel different for him in his second NFL season. The speed of the game, the reading of defensive alignments, the timing of cuts and blocks -- all of it is coming more naturally. It is a sentiment that should give Raiders fans genuine reason for optimism, especially given the overhaul happening in the franchise's leadership and offensive philosophy.
For Jeanty, Year 1 was a crash course in humility and adaptation.
Coming out of Boise State, Jeanty was a human highlight reel. He could dictate the pace of a game, often making the first defender miss and then outrunning angles. But the NFL is not a forgiving league. Defensive coordinators study tendencies. Linebackers close faster. Safeties read run fits with surgical precision. Jeanty learned quickly that what worked in college would not always work on Sundays.
"Things have slowed down for him," the report noted, capturing Jeanty's self-assessment. It is a common refrain among running backs who make the leap -- the ones who survive their rookie year are the ones who learn to process information faster, to trust their eyes, and to let their natural instincts take over after the mental hurdles are cleared.
Now entering Year 2, Jeanty looks poised to take that next step.
The Raiders roster has undergone significant turnover since the end of the 2025 campaign. General Manager John Spytek and Head Coach Klint Kubiak have taken over the football operations, and their vision for the offense is still coming into focus. But one thing is clear: the organization is invested in getting the run game right.
Backing up Jeanty, the Raiders have Chris Collier, Dylan Laube, Mike Washington Jr., and Roman Hemby on the roster. None of them pose a serious threat to Jeanty's workload if he plays to his potential. Laube, a 2024 draft pick, could carve out a third-down role, but Jeanty's skill set as a pass-catcher out of the backfield makes him a three-down back when healthy and operating at full confidence.
The offensive line still has question marks, but there are building blocks. Kolton Miller remains the anchor at left tackle. DJ Glaze, entering his third year, has shown flashes on the right side. The interior features Tyler Linderbaum at center -- a rock in the middle -- along with Jordan Meredith, Will Putnam, and Trey Zuhn III competing for guard spots. If this unit can stay healthy and develop chemistry, the running lanes Jeanty sees in 2026 should be wider and more consistent than what he dealt with as a rookie.
The quarterback situation also matters for a running back's productivity. With Kirk Cousins under center, defenses will have to respect the passing game. Cousins may not be the most mobile quarterback in the league, but his experience reading defenses and checking into favorable run looks should benefit Jeanty. Aidan O'Connell and Jacob Clark are also on the roster, but the job belongs to Cousins entering training camp.
When a defense has to account for Brock Bowers over the middle and Michael Mayer on the edge, plus a deep receiving corps that now includes Jack Bech, Jalen Nailor, Tre Tucker, and Brenden Rice, there are fewer defenders available to stack the box. That is the kind of environment where a running back like Jeanty can thrive.
It is worth remembering that the NFL does not always afford rushers a long grace period. The average career span for a running back is short, and the window for establishing oneself as a feature back is even shorter. Jeanty knows this. That is why his comments about the game slowing down carry weight. He is not making excuses for his rookie year. He is acknowledging the adjustment and signaling that he is ready to perform at a higher level.
The Raiders' offensive coordinator, Andrew Janocko, will have a significant hand in how Jeanty is deployed. Janocko comes from a coaching tree that values versatility in the backfield. Expect to see Jeanty lined up in the slot, split out wide on occasion, and used on screens and swing passes that get him in space. The best offensive coordinators scheme touches for their playmakers, and Janocko should recognize that Jeanty is one of the most explosive skill players on the roster.
Defensive coordinator Rob Leonard, meanwhile, will be tasked with building a unit that can keep games close and give the offense opportunities. A strong defense helps the running game by allowing the team to play with a lead and lean on the ground attack to close out games. The Raiders' defense has talent -- Maxx Crosby, Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker, Taron Johnson, and Jeremy Chinn headline a group that could be formidable. If they hold up their end of the bargain, Jeanty will get more fourth-quarter carries, which is exactly what a feature back wants.
For fans in Las Vegas, the hope is that Jeanty's second season mirrors what we have seen from other running backs who needed a year to adjust. There are countless examples of backs who struggled as rookies only to break out in Year 2 once the game slowed down, the offense clicked, and confidence returned.
Jeanty's physical tools never left. The vision, the burst, the contact balance -- it is all still there. What was missing in 2025 was the split-second decision-making that separates good NFL backs from great ones. That comes with repetition, with film study, and with live reps against NFL defenses.
Now, with a full offseason under his belt and a fresh coaching staff eager to maximize his talent, Jeanty appears ready to show why the Raiders invested a premium pick in him.
"Things have slowed down for him in Year 2," the report stated -- and that one sentence might be the most encouraging thing Raiders fans have heard about their running game since last season ended.
If Jeanty can channel that improved processing speed into production on the field, the Las Vegas offense could take a significant step forward in 2026. And for a team trying to climb out of the AFC West basement, every step matters.
The pads are not on yet. The real tests will come in training camp and preseason. But for now, Ashton Jeanty is seeing the game differently. And for the Raiders, that could make all the difference.