The Las Vegas Raiders are in desperate need of offensive playmakers this offseason. They ranked among the league’s worst in scoring last season and had the NFL’s least productive rushing attack. With glaring holes at quarterback, wide receiver, and running back, new head coach Pete Carroll—who always emphasized dynamic playmakers during his tenure with the Seattle Seahawks—could push for significant upgrades on offense. While defense remains a priority, Ian Valentino of The 33rd Team believes Las Vegas will aggressively target offensive weapons in the first two rounds of the draft.
In his latest projection, Valentino has the Raiders selecting Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 pick.
“Similar to the Giants, the Las Vegas Raiders are likely to enter the race for Darnold,” Valentino wrote. “Pete Carroll might also consider bringing Russell Wilson back to transform the Raiders into a competitive run-oriented team, reminiscent of his previous Seahawks squads. Selecting Ashton Jeanty at this point might be a tough sell for some, but he has the potential to be a franchise cornerstone throughout his rookie contract.”
Jeanty rushed for 2,601 yards in 2024—the second-most in NFL history—making him a potential game-changer for the Raiders’ struggling ground attack. But that’s not all; Valentino also predicts Las Vegas will draft Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe in the second round. While Milroe still needs to develop as a passer, he totaled 1,257 rushing yards over his last two seasons at Alabama.
If the Raiders land both Jeanty and Milroe, they could transform their rushing offense from the league’s worst to one of the best in a single offseason.
