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Pittsburgh Steelers RB Kenneth Gainwell.
The Las Vegas Raiders took a big swing in the draft last year when they drafted running back Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 overall pick. It is very rare for running backs to go in the top 10 in the modern NFL, but Jeanty was a historic player at Boise State.
He was the favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, but struggled to make consistent plays behind a shaky Raiders offensive line. There were flashes of his elite playmaking ability, but the team will likely want to bring him a running mate to share the load.
Moe Moton of Bleacher Report thinks the Raiders will sign Pittsburgh Steelers free agent running back Kenneth Gainwell.
“Based on what new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak has done with Kenneth Walker III, Alvin Kamara and Dalvin Cook at his previous stops, he figures to get the most out of Ashton Jeanty. Nonetheless, Las Vegas needs a well-rounded running back who can take some of the load off Jeanty or give him a breather during run-heavy game plans,” Moton wrote. “Gainwell could do that and also be a good example for the young running back.
“Last year, the Raiders’ previous coaching staff worked with Jeanty to improve his pass protection. He would be able to learn a lot from Gainwell on passing downs.”
Gainwell Very Productive in the Passing Game
One of the questions about Jeanty coming into the NFL was whether or not he could affect the passing game. He didn’t catch many passes in college, but he proved that it’s actually a strength of his. He had 55 catches last season, which was third on the team.
However, his real strength is as a runner. He was one of the hardest players to tackle last season. The Raiders also need to be smart about not overworking him.
That’s why Gainwell makes a ton of sense. He’s a very good pass catcher out of the backfield. With the Steelers last season, he had 73 receptions for 486 yards. He’s a perfect change of pace back for Jeanty. He also shouldn’t cost much in free agency.
Kubiak likes using multiple backs and definitely likes to throw the ball to running backs, so Gainwell makes a lot of sense.
Could Raheem Mostert Return?
Gainwell is only 26, so he’s the right age for the types of players the Raiders want to add. That said, they’re already paying Jeanty a pretty high salary for a running back, even though he’s a rookie.
They might not be keen on giving a multi-year deal to another running back. If Gainwell is out of reach, it could make some sense to bring back Raheem Mostert.
He’s going to be 34 when the season starts, so he’s not a long-term option, but he would be a cheap option. He also has experience working in offenses that are very similar to the type that Kubiak runs. That said, the coach could push hard to get more running back depth. The Raiders want to run the ball, but don’t want to overwork Jeanty so young in his career.
Austin Boyd has covered the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Lakers for Heavy.com since 2019. A Los Angeles native now based in Las Vegas, his featured work at Heavy includes interviews with NFL stars Darren Waller and Joe Montana, and a behind-the-scenes look at “The Shop.” More about Austin Boyd
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