HENDERSON, Nev. — The Las Vegas Raiders aren’t resting on the laurels of a record-breaking rookie season from Ashton Jeanty. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that veteran Najee Harris is scheduled to visit the Raiders’ facility this coming Thursday. The move signals a clear intent by General Manager John Spytek to find a hammer to complement Jeanty’s lightning-quick production in Klint Kubiak’s offense.
Las Vegas hit a grand slam in the 2025 NFL Draft with Jeanty, who racked up 1,321 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns last year. But the depth behind him remains a ghost town. Dylan Laube and Chris Collier combined for fewer than 10 yards on the ground last season, leaving Jeanty to shoulder a massive 266-carry load. Bringing in a veteran like Harris isn’t about replacing the young star; it’s about protecting him.
Harris comes with a resume that few available free agents can match. He spent four years in Pittsburgh, never dipping below 1,000 rushing yards in a single season. His career total of 4,373 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns speaks to a durability the Raiders desperately need. However, 2025 was a nightmare for the 28-year-old. After signing a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers, a torn Achilles in Week 3 ended his season before it ever really started. He finished the year with just 61 yards on 15 carries.
The desert air might be exactly what Harris needs for a career reset. Earlier this week, Harris’s camp released a video of him sprinting on a treadmill—six months post-surgery—looking fluid and powerful. He already visited the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday, but the Raiders represent a unique fit. With Las Vegas likely targeting quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in next month’s draft, providing a rookie QB with a Jeanty-Harris backfield would be an immediate security blanket.
“We need a wingman for Ashton. This league is too violent for a one-man show at running back. We want guys who can finish games and punish defenders in the fourth quarter.”— Klint Kubiak, Raiders Offensive Coordinator
The Raiders’ rushing attack ranked near the bottom of the league in 2025 despite Jeanty’s individual brilliance. The offensive line struggled to create space, but a “down-hill” runner like Harris could change the math. If Harris signs, he provides a veteran voice for a young locker room and allows the Raiders to use Jeanty more creatively in the passing game, where he hauled in 55 catches as a rookie. Expect a decision shortly after Thursday’s meeting, as Seattle is also looming with a significant interest in the former Alabama standout.
