The Raiders’ offense will look much different in 2026 compared to this past season, but running back Ashton Jeanty will of course still have a major role to play. The rest of the team’s backfield depth chart could see considerable turnover this offseason. 
[Offseason Outlook: Las Vegas Raiders]
During his rookie season, Jeanty played every game and logged 266 carries. A heavy workload would come as no surprise in Year 2 for the former sixth overall pick, but adding depth at the running back spot is a priority for Las Vegas. Head coach Klint Kubiak confirmed as much when speaking at the Combine.
“We definitely want to have a two-man show, guys that can share the load,” Kubiak said (via Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith). “It’s a long season. You don’t want to put all the carries and targets on one guy. So right now we’re identifying guys that are available in the draft, identifying free agents we might go after, looking at our own roster and seeing who can share that. It’s important that Jeanty has a wingman.”
Zamir White played out the final year of his rookie contract in 2025, appearing in only six games. Free agent addition Raheem Mostert played in 12 games but was similarly ineffective on offense. Both backs are set to reach the open market in March, and it would come as little surprise if a departure took place in each case. That could set the Raiders up for a veteran addition via free agency as well as a draft investment in March.
Vegas is currently second in the NFL with just over $89MM in cap space. That would make it viable to win a bidding war for someone like Kenneth Walker, the top running back on track to test the market (given the Jets’ willingness to tag Breece Hall). A big-ticket investment on the Raiders’ part with Jeanty already in place would be a perplexing use of resources, though. A modest deal for one of the older backs in free agency would likely be much more feasible. With 10 selections in April’s draft, Vegas will also have ample opportunity to add another RB on a rookie contract to pair with Jeanty.
A number of key decisions need to be made before the Raiders take the expected route of drafting Fernando Mendoza first overall. That includes an evaluation of Geno Smith and the team’s quarterback options for the spring. However, the running back position will also be one to watch in Vegas’ case.
Washington Jr from Arkansas is your guy
Why even mention Walker? Raiders would never even consider him with Jeanty in the fold already. Come on!
Everything the Raiders do from here on out should be focused on line on both sides of the ball, but primarily on offense, and then a WR to complement Bowers. A side kick to Jeanty like Jaleel McLaughlin or someone like that with some speed and shiftiness wouldn’t hurt, but not another $10M plus per year guy.
Denver didn’t even submit a contract to McLaughlin, so they won’t even get a draft pick if someone else signs him.
Huh?
Build the OL. You’re welcome.
The Raiders aren’t paying Walker starter money to back up Jeanty, and Walker isn’t going to go to Vegas and be a backup and derail his career. The mention of him at all is needless and stupid. There’s plenty of veteran backup types that hot free agency every off-season, and no matter what Kubiak says, they’re not looking for someone to split reps with Jeanty. Unless Jeanty gets injured he’ll be the workhorse and if he gets injured, the Raiders season is over at that point anyway, so whoever they have behind him won’t really matter. RB is one of the few positions this team has a future at so stop talking about backups and start talking about what you’re gonna do on the O line, at reciever and on defense. We all know what QB, RB and TE will look like for the next few years barring something catastrophic happening.
I promise you they are in fact looking for somebody to split reps with him.
That’s exactly what they did in both New Orleans and Seattle when he was there.
Jeanty wasn’t exactly amazing last year, either. He was solid for a rookie but that’s it. He could really benefit from having a sidekick.
He was poor as was the whole offense due to scheme and bad OL play.
Again, build the line.
And yes of course they will get a backup RB.
Seriously. Think about how controversial it is for a coach to come out and flat out state that “we want a two man show” at RB.
He isn’t going to say that and potentially piss off his former top ten pick RB if he doesn’t mean it.
I agree it definitely won’t be Walker but they are definitely going to split carries similarly to Seattle. Maybe Jeanty can prove to be similar to Kamara with fresh enough legs. Who knows?