A tackle-breaking, field-stretching and game-changing talent out of Boise State, running back Ashton Jeanty being selected No. 6 overall was of little surprise.
Thusly, it's perhaps somewhat startling that the Las Vegas Raiders could employ a committee approach, a staple for many of Pete Carroll's past teams.
"I love having multiple guys play," Carroll told reporters Thursday at the conclusion of the team's mandatory minicamp. "I'm not relying on one guy, you know."
Jeanty is the headliner in a running back room that includes free-agent addition Raheem Mostert, Zamir White and Sincere McCormick.
Asked how the carries would be divvied up, Carroll said the RBs would make the decision with their play.
"They're gonna show us that, you know," he said, "when they get their chance to compete."
While Carroll doesn't want to rely on just one guy, Jeanty was a one-man wrecking crew in a 2,601-yard junior campaign with Boise State. The Raiders' rushing game was in desperate need of a revamp following a 4-13 2024 season in which Las Vegas' paltry 1,357 rushing yards was dead last in the NFL.
Jeanty might not be a workhorse for the Silver and Black, though.
Nonetheless, Carroll and Jeanty's new teammate, Mostert, were each hugely complimentary of the rookie -- along with the backfield collective.
"We're almost like one in the same," said Mostert, who spent the past three seasons with the Miami Dolphins. "He has a physical presence to him, so do I. We're both in the pass game, we try to be as effective as we possibly can. I think, with us two in the backfield together and being able to utilize our abilities, I think it's gonna be a great showing."
By Carroll's accord, Jeanty has risen to the hype so far this spring.
"Ashton looks every bit what we had hoped he would look like," Carroll said. "He caught the ball really well, he understood stuff, took everything really seriously, gave terrific effort throughout. And we made a big deal to him -- everybody's watching you, you know -- and he embraced the thought of it. So, it's going to be exciting to see what happens."
Carroll and Mostert each had compliments to offer for McCormick and White, as well.
"When we go to camp, it'll just be game on and we'll see what happens," Carroll said.
Carroll expressing his desire to have a multi-headed attack out of the backfield wasn't delivered as any type of surprise, even with the sixth-overall selection of the 2025 NFL Draft residing there.
That's just how he does things, as evidenced by his last two drafts with the Seahawks (2022-2023) when Seattle picked three backs total. From Chris Carson to Rashaad Penny to Kenneth Walker IIIto Zach Charbonnet and plenty more, Carroll's stretch run with the Seahawks featured a plethora of options out of the backfield.
Despite how touches are tallied, though, Jeanty's potential has been obvious.
Mostert has been a fan of the rookie "since he started getting on the scene." In particular, Mostert appreciates Jeanty's ability to read the field, shed tackles and break off huge gains.
"Just shows you the type of generational talent that he has," Mostert said. "Especially out in the pass game, too. We've been out here, just today, he caught a couple balls and, you know, you look at it, and you're like, man, he's gonna be special."
