New Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak is very high on 2025 first-round pick Ashton Jeanty, but he was honest about the fact that the team wanted to bring in another running back to take some pressure off of him. Jeanty rushed the ball 266 times last season, which was seventh-most in the NFL.
If he’s going to have a long career, the Raiders need to manage his carries, especially in seasons where they don’t make the playoffs. The team didn’t add a running back early in free agency, but there’s one name they’re taking a look at.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, former Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris has visited with the Seattle Seahawks and has plans to visit with the Raiders next.
Harris came into the NFL as a first-round pick of the Steelers in 2021. He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie after rushing for 1,200 yards and catching 74 passes. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his first four seasons, but took a step back last year.
He signed with the Chargers in free agency, but tore his Achilles tendon early in the year. That’s a brutal injury to come back from, which is likely why teams want to meet with him before offering him any kind of contract.
Should Raiders Sign Harris?
Though Harris’ volume was strong to start his career, he only averages 3.9 yards per carry. He also hasn’t been as big a factor in the passing game since his rookie year.
At the same time, the Raiders would make sense for both sides. Harris wouldn’t have to take on a big workload, but he gets to play in an offense that relies heavily on running the ball.
Jeanty is going to be the bellcow, but Harris could be a decent complement. There aren’t a ton of great options on the market right now, and the Raiders likely don’t want to draft another young running back when they already have one.
It makes sense to add a veteran to the room. If Kubiak’s former team doesn’t sign Harris, the Raiders could be a strong suitor.
Tyler Linderbaum Addition Will Help Run Game
The Raiders had the worst running game in the NFL last season. Adding a veteran to the running back room will help, but signing center Tyler Linderbaum will make an even greater impact.
He’s one of the top run-blocking centers in the NFL. Plus, adding him will allow Jackson Powers-Johnson to focus on playing guard. He’s excited about the chance to play with Linderbaum.
“Having an All-Pro (vote-getter) at center, that’s great — and have a guy I can learn from,” Powers-Johnson said of Linderbaum recently, via the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
“He’s going to know a lot of the tricks of the trade. Getting to play next to a fellow Rimington winner, that’s awesome. It’s really exciting. He seems like a great dude.”
Things are looking much brighter for the Raiders’ offense heading into the 2026 season, but the group still has a lot to prove.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Raiders Looking Into Signing Pro Bowl Former First-Round Pick RB appeared first on Heavy Sports.