Dude, you gotta see what’s happening with the Raiders’ 2025 draft class. Ashton Jeanty, the No. 6 overall pick, played a season-high 84 percent of the offensive snaps in their 35-27 Week 3 win over the Saints, but he’s just not producing, and it’s getting kinda worrying after a hot Week 1 start. This guy’s supposed to be a game-changer, right?
Jeanty’s Struggles Are More Than Just the Rookie Wall
Seriously, Jeanty’s numbers from Week 3 aren’t what you expect from a top-10 pick seeing that much action. He only managed 56 rushing yards on 19 carries. Plus, he had three catches for 37 yards, which is decent, but his overall impact just isn’t there for the second straight game. He’s now averaging a measly 3.3 yards per carry on the season. What’s the deal? It’s not all on him, though. The source says it plain as day: he hasn’t been getting great run blocking in the past two weeks. That’s a huge problem. You can’t expect a back to consistently break through if the trenches aren’t holding up. That absolutely needs to improve, and fast, especially with the Chiefs coming to town.
Injury Woes and Depth Chart Shuffle Already Hitting Hard
It’s not just Jeanty, either. The 2025 class is taking some hits. Second-round pick Jack Bech, who was supposed to be developing in his second season, played just 11 snaps before he fractured his forearm. He’s gonna be out for an extended period, which is just brutal. He had five catches for 48 yards on six targets this season, and it’s a huge bummer for a guy who needed that development time. Then there’s Darien Porter. He missed Week 2 with a foot injury, came back, and promptly lost his starting job to rookie Zeke Masses. Porter didn’t even get on defense against the Saints, only playing 19 special teams snaps. Will he see any defensive action against the Chiefs? It’ll be interesting to see if they give him a shot. Caleb Rogers, a third-round offensive lineman, also stepped in for five snaps at right guard when Jackson Powers-Johnson went down with a groin injury. If Powers-Johnson can’t go Sunday, Rogers could definitely get more play. Another third-rounder, Charles Grant, also an offensive lineman, logged five snaps on special teams but didn’t hit the offensive field. And don’t forget Dont’e Thornton, the fourth-round wide receiver, who’s still on injured reserve for at least another week. This class is facing some serious hurdles early on, from production to health to just finding a spot on the field.
The Guys Grinding in the Trenches and on Special Teams
It’s not all doom and gloom for every single pick. Tonka Hemingway, a fourth-round defensive tackle, played 53 percent of the defensive snaps in Week 3, which was actually the most of any defensive tackle for the Raiders in that game. He notched three tackles, so that’s something. On the flip side, sixth-round defensive tackle JJ Pegues has been inactive every single game this season, after being active in nine games as a rookie. That’s a tough look. Seventh-round pick Cody Lindenberg contributed with 17 snaps on special teams.
So, the Raiders are heading into Week 4 at home against the Chiefs. They’ve got some serious questions to answer, especially when it comes to getting their top pick going. Can Jeanty find his rhythm? Can the offensive line figure out how to block for him? And how will all these injuries and depth chart changes impact the team’s performance against a division rival? It’s going to be a fascinating matchup to see if these young guys can step up when it really matters.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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