The 2025 NFL season is packed with some big-name rookies. Jacksonville Jaguars two-way star and reigning Heisman winner Travis Hunter is one of them.
First-round quarterbacks Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart will also be worth watching, along with Cleveland Browns QB Shedeur Sanders for a number of reasons. Another name to know is Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty, who was a dominant force at Boise State.
While many assume Hunter will be the league’s top rookie, that may not be the case. One NFL writer actually predicted Jeanty could make history in a big way.

Could This Rookie Shatter a Record That’s Stood Since the 1980s?
Jeffri Chadiha of NFL.com dropped 10 bold predictions for the 2025 season, and one of them was a big one: Jeanty will rush for 2,000 yards.
“Jeanty should be a heavy favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year, given the situation he’s walking into in Las Vegas. Head coach Pete Carroll is going to do what he always does, which is run the football like crazy, and Jeanty is a three-down back built exactly for this type of approach. So instead of simply predicting that Jeanty will win some hardware in his rookie season, it’s worth going a step further and having him make history.”
“Nine NFL players have rushed for 2,000 yards in a season, with Saquon Barkley joining the club in 2024. None of those men accomplished the feat in Year 1. Yes, it’s a heavy expectation to place on a rookie.”
Chadiha continued, “It’s also apparent that the Raiders won’t have that many weapons to rely upon in that offense, and we’re living in an era when running the football is trendy again. The Raiders will have to win games with a ground-and-pound approach. That puts Jeanty in position to do unprecedented things.”
Jeanty turned heads throughout the pre-draft process and was taken within the top 10 picks of the NFL Draft, which is rare for a running back these days.
Ashton Jeanty in his 14 Games last season:
➖397 Touches ➖2,739 Yards ➖30 TD’s
He looks like an absolute TANK at his Pro Day..I genuinely believe that Jeanty could go as early as 5th overall to the Jaguars and he would STILL be a value
A true blue chip type of prospect man pic.twitter.com/GvmYE3CkXe
— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) March 28, 2025
Hitting 2,000 rushing yards is no easy feat, especially for a rookie. But in 2024, Jeanty ran for a stunning 2,601 yards with 29 touchdowns on 374 carries. So if anyone is capable of hitting that mark this year, Jeanty might be the one to do it.