The Las Vegas Raiders had the league’s worst rushing attack last season, and they’ve done little to address it so far this offseason. Their most significant move was signing veteran running back Raheem Mostert.
Although Mostert is a reliable veteran presence, he’s better suited for a complementary role as a No. 2 back. In a column published on March 21, Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton explained why Las Vegas still needs an upgrade at the position.
“The Raiders arguably have the weakest backfield in the league. Raheem Mostert, who turns 33 in April, is currently leading the group,” Moton wrote. “Sincere McCormick showed flashes in a few games last season, but after suffering a season-ending ankle injury, he remains an unproven option.”
Moton added that while the Raiders could tap into this year’s deep rookie running back class, they might also look at adding another veteran to take the load off Mostert.
The Raiders have frequently been linked to Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty in the 2025 NFL Draft, but the No. 6 overall pick is likely too early to select him. Instead, Moton suggested Las Vegas pursue a trade for Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker, proposing a deal that would send a 2025 sixth-round pick to Seattle.
Walker Has Obvious Ties to Raiders Head Coach
Kenneth Walker entered the NFL as a highly touted second-round pick and made an immediate impact, rushing for 1,050 yards in his rookie season. Given his college success, expectations for him were sky-high.
However, Walker hasn’t quite lived up to that early promise. He managed just 905 rushing yards in his second year and dipped to 573 yards in 2024, missing six games due to injury. That said, new Raiders head coach Pete Carroll is very familiar with Walker from their time together in Seattle and could advocate for the team to pursue a trade.
“Raiders head coach Pete Carroll can reach out to his former team and explore a deal for Kenneth Walker III,” Maurice Moton wrote. “Seattle might be open to moving the 24-year-old, considering his declining production and injury history. Since his impressive rookie season in 2022, Walker’s numbers have steadily decreased.”
Moton also pointed out that Walker missed four games over his first two seasons, in addition to the six he sat out last year.
While a sixth-round pick wouldn’t be a hefty price for a player with Walker’s upside, he’s entering the final year of his rookie deal and will likely be seeking a significant payday soon.
Should Raiders Draft Ashton Jeanty?
While trading for Kenneth Walker wouldn’t carry much risk, there’s no guarantee he’d be the solution to fix the Raiders’ struggling ground game. Meanwhile, Ashton Jeanty has already shown he can be highly productive, even without an elite supporting cast.
At this point, nearly every major mock draft has the Raiders selecting Jeanty, and NFL.com’s Chad Reuter made the same prediction.
“It’s no secret that new head coach Pete Carroll wants to establish a strong running game,” Reuter wrote in a recent mock draft. “Jeanty could be the workhorse back, carrying the ball 20-25 times per game, running through defenders and breaking off big plays in the open field.”
Drafting a running back at No. 6 overall would be a bold decision, but Jeanty is considered one of the top running back prospects to come out of college in recent years. Still, with several other pressing needs on the roster, the Raiders may not be in the best position to use such a valuable pick on a running back.
