Mark Davis backs Jeanty with Kubiak, Linderbaum, Washington Jr.
mark davis watched the Raiders make Ashton Jeanty’s path clearer this offseason. The team hired Klint Kubiak as head coach, added center Tyler Linderbaum, and drafted Mike Washington Jr., a set of moves that point the offense toward more help for its rookie runner.
Jeanty should be one of the biggest beneficiaries because the Raiders did not hide where the problem was last season. He was constantly hit in the backfield, handled 266 carries, and the other backs combined for only 41. That workload came on a 3-14 team that needed cleaner run-game answers.
Kubiak and Linderbaum
Kubiak’s arrival gives the Raiders a new voice on offense, while Linderbaum gives Jeanty a center who should help stabilize the middle. Those two additions matter together because the Raiders were trying to improve the run game without relying on one more pure skill-position splash.
The front office also stayed selective elsewhere. John Spytek said in a recent interview with Kay Adams that the Raiders are not going to “force anything” just to bring in more talent, and the draft reflected that approach. Las Vegas took Malik Benson in the sixth round, then waited until the end to add seventh-rounder Brandon Cleveland.
Raiders Receivers and 1,696 Yards
The receiving room explains why Jeanty’s role matters. The Raiders shipped out Jakobi Meyers at last year’s trade deadline, drafted only one receiver, and no current member of the room has ever had 700 receiving yards in a season. In 2025, the position produced 1,696 yards, the third-fewest in the league.
That shortage leaves the offense with little proven help outside the run game, and it puts more on Jeanty if the Raiders want balance. Tre Tucker, Jack Bech, and Dont’e Thornton are still in the mix, but the offseason additions point to a team that is leaning on structure and blocking as much as on new pass-catching volume.
Mike Washington Jr. and the Backfield
Washington’s addition gives the Raiders a second runner to take some of the load that sat almost entirely on Jeanty last season. With the other backs combining for 41 carries, the backfield was too thin to spread work or keep him fresh.
The Raiders also used the draft to keep adding pieces after coming off a 3-14 season. They were praised for the quality of the class, but the more immediate football effect is simpler: Jeanty now has a better chance to run behind a steadier interior, work in a scheme built to help the ground game, and avoid carrying the offense by himself every week.
