After a disappointing season, the Las Vegas Raiders will need to reassess several positions during the 2025 offseason, including running back.
The team entered the season with Alexander Mattison and Zamir White as their running back duo, but neither has established himself as a reliable long-term option. White, in particular, has struggled, and although Mattison has performed slightly better, he is on a one-year contract and is unlikely to remain the starting back for the Raiders in 2025.
To improve the running back situation, the Raiders will need to look for upgrades either in free agency or the draft. One potential candidate available in the market is Nick Chubb, the running back for the Cleveland Browns, who is currently in the final year of his contract.
In a recent article discussing potential landing spots for Chubb in 2025, Sports Illustrated’s Evan Massey suggested that the Raiders could be a possibility.
Coming into the 2024 NFL season, things were expected to be better for the Raiders. Many thought they had a good chance to work their way into the playoffs. That has not been the case.
Once again, Las Vegas has been a poor team. They will head into the offseason looking to figure out a way to turn things around. Bringing in a legitimate starting quarterback and signing Chubb could be a nice step in the right direction, especially with them badly needing a better ground attack.
When healthy, Nick Chubb has established himself as one of the top running backs in the league since being drafted in the second round by the Browns in 2018. A four-time Pro Bowler, Chubb has achieved four seasons with over 1,000 rushing yards, including three with more than 1,200 yards.
However, injuries have plagued Chubb, as he missed four games in 2020, three in 2021, and then 15 in 2023 due to a severe knee injury. The Georgia native is back to health this season, having recorded 73 carries for 222 rushing yards and three touchdowns, but he is averaging only 3.0 yards per carry.
If Chubb can return to his form before the 2023 injury, he would be a significant upgrade for the Raiders, who have struggled with their rushing game this season. Not only would Las Vegas benefit from an enhanced backfield, but Chubb could also ease the pressure on a young quarterback that the Raiders draft.
However, simply enhancing the running back position won’t be sufficient, as Las Vegas’ offensive line has struggled with run-blocking.
The Raiders’ decision to pursue Chubb will depend on the cost, but he likely won’t command a high price. After all, he will be 30 next season, which is often seen as a turning point for running backs in terms of durability. This factor could negatively impact Chubb’s market value.
Even if the Raiders express interest, there’s a strong possibility that Chubb prefers to join a contending team after experiencing years of losses in Cleveland, which the Raiders do not currently represent.
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