The 2026 NFL Draft is that this week. We’re nearly there, everybody.
The Las Vegas Raiders are anticipated to pick Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 total choose. Mendoza was one of the best participant in school soccer final season, profitable the Heisman Trophy and serving to the Hoosiers win the nationwide title.
The Raiders’ draft plans in 2026 have been comparatively drama-free, so with the draft simply a few days away, let’s take an opportunity to look again on how issues went within the 2025 draft.
Ashton Jeanty’s Rookie Season
Las Vegas chosen working again Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 total choose. While there have been different gamers of higher positional worth on the board, the Raiders went with the participant they believed was one of the best within the class.
Jeanty’s rookie season was a blended bag by way of manufacturing. He totaled 266 carries for 975 yards and 5 touchdowns, additionally catching 55 passes for 346 yards and 5 touchdowns.
More than 1,300 scrimmage yards and double-digit touchdowns is an effective way to start an NFL profession, particularly when he performed behind a poor offensive line. He completed with 807 yards after contact (83 percent), and at one level, that quantity was at 101 % (sure, 101 %).
Jeanty averaged fewer than three yards per carry, which was an indication of his incapability to determine the velocity of the NFL, in addition to the offensive line not giving him sufficient room to run. That quantity improved marginally over the yr, however he bought off to a gradual begin.
Improvement
As the season progressed, we noticed the sport begin to decelerate for Jeanty, and he turned in additional high quality performances. This was very true over the ultimate seven video games of the season.
In these seven video games, he totaled 117 carries for 421 yards and a landing, together with a 128-yard efficiency towards the Houston Texans. However, superior statistics didn’t look favorably upon his rookie season.
With a brand new offensive line coach and new items to offer Jeanty room to run, together with the specter of an actual passing sport, Jeanty ought to have a a lot better second season. He understands how you can assault defenses higher and understands the nuances of the NFL.
The Raiders have a possible star on their arms, and what Jeanty does will probably be key to the group’s future. Now, it is as much as the entrance workplace so as to add items round him to make his life simpler on the sector.
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