If your team can’t run a football, then it becomes hard for the coach to run that team. A team with failed screen plays, red zone futility, and 79.8 yards per game last season. The Las Vegas Raiders’ running offence was one of the worst in the NFL the previous season. With just 10 rushing touchdowns in the season, the Raiders didn’t just struggle on the ground; they fell apart. But things became intriguing when defensive mastermind Pete Carroll, who enjoys playing run-heavy, vintage football, entered the picture. However, his past with running backs after Marshawn Lynch? Not exactly a source of confidence.
Rashaad Penny, whose career was ruined by injuries and inconsistent usage, is one example. Or Chris Carson, who sacrificed everything for Seattle until his neck could no longer bear it. Or Kenneth Walker III, who has spent more time nursing tweaks and dividing carries. The recurring theme? Heavy workload. Physical cost. Relentless demands from a coach who enjoys pounding the rock until the backfield gives out.
And now, Ashton Jeanty has entered the scene. He is also accustomed to volume; in 2023, while playing for Boise State, he amassed over 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns. However, the NFL is a different animal. Mike Florio and Michael Holley immediately delved into the rookies who are anticipated to have the greatest impact in 2025 on NBC’s post-draft analysis. Holley spoke without hesitation, “I can’t be taking a running back with the first pick… but yes, I am. I’m going to take Ashton Jeanty with the Raiders—not just because he’s super talented, but because he went to an organization that knows exactly what it wants. Pete Carroll loves a strong running game. Ashton Jeanty is going to have a lot of fun in Las Vegas in year one.”
Have fun? Perhaps. But that’s provided the Raiders don’t treat Jeanty the same way they’ve treated practically every other back since Marshawn Lynch left Seattle. And Mike Florio said it perfectly, “Great kid too. And I just hope they use him the way he wants to be used. I don’t know that he wants to be the workhorse right away.” Couldn’t have said it better. Jeanty is an outstanding RB and a great asset for the Raiders, if they use him as per his capabilities. “I hope they find the right balance. And we’ve seen plenty of Pete Carroll running backs post Marshawn Lynch that just could not withstand that pounding and pounding and pounding of being the workhorse guy,” Mike added.
But if Pete Carroll is the brain of the Raiders’ reboot, Tom Brady is the face. But the soul? That might just be Maxx Crosby.
Maxx Crosby backs Brady’s draft moves after Ashton Jeanty’s confession
Maxx Crosby returned in 2025 with more than just pass-rushing plans after a 4-13 season that almost destroyed Raider Nation. He was the emotional centre of a team that was attempting to reinvent itself. And the All-Pro DE laid it all out on The Rush’s April 30 episode: “I have to give our front office a ton of credit… You could tell everyone was happy, confident, and we got the type of guys we wanted — not just in terms of measurables, but also in mindset. Guys who love football.”
Crosby wasn’t merely referring to him in post-draft interviews. Before the choice even took place, he was texting him. “I didn’t know we were going to draft him. I knew we wanted him… I try to manifest everything. So, I just shot him a text. Shout out SAXX Underwear. We have the same marketing team. I’ve known Jeanty for some months now.” Yes. Both the Raiders’ defensive cornerstone and their top choice are brand ambassadors for the same underwear business.
The message reached Jeanty. “He did text me last night and said, ‘Ready to go to war with you,’ and I replied, ‘Shoot, I’m ready to go to war with you, too,’” he continued, sounding like a buddy already on the battlefield. “Once he texted me, I felt like, ‘Man, it’s really happening—I’m going to the Raiders.’” Something changed in that instant. Because Jeanty arrived with someone already on his side, whereas most rookies arrive as strangers.
Crosby acknowledged that a number of factors, including Mark Davis’ trust, John Spytek’s GM savvy, Pete Carroll’s football DNA, and, of course, Brady’s leadership ability, had an impact on the draft. “There’s just so many different spurts and influences… from Pete Carroll to Spytek to Tom Brady to Mark Davis… all that combined in one.”
But picking Ashton Jeanty? That was personal. He is brought in for his attitude and his skill set. The type of guy that Maxx Crosby is looking for in the locker room. Brady wants a guy who can create a culture. With proper management, he might finally revive Las Vegas’ flatlined ground game.
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