The 2023 season was a wild one, as was last season. But in 2023, we had players step up in big ways -- not necessarily with the Las Vegas Raiders, but across the league. Raheem Mostert, the former Miami Dolphins RB scored 21 touchdowns that year.
And yet, it still seems like so long ago. Mostert used to be one of the best RBs in the league, especially in the playoffs. We all remember his NFC Championship game against the Green Bay Packers when he was with the San Francisco 49ers -- he rushed for 220 yards and finished with four rushing touchdowns. He was as close to unstoppable as it gets.
Obviously that was in 2020, almost five years ago. Mostert has been through some injuries since, and he's had some wear and tear, too. So, don't expect to get that guy back every single week. But, what he can be is a great backup, provide amazing depth, and be a great leader. He knows 2024 wasn't great, but he's ready for 2025
"Yeah, I look at it like this, like I'm always going to have a chip on my shoulder no matter where I go, no matter what I'm doing," Mostert told media via Zoom call on Wednesday. "And last year's performance wasn't up to my standard, wasn't up to my par.
"And so, just getting back into that form, I'm already feeling really good coming in this off-season, and I'm just super excited to showcase my work ethic and everything that I've done and worked up to thus far. I could show you better than I could tell you. That's a saying that I truly live by. I could show you better than I could tell you."
And, let's say they need him to play some snaps -- he still has a bit of juice left. Last year on paper doesn't look great for him, but Mostert's stats are a product of being the backup on a bad offense. The Raiders aren't asking him to be the 2023 version of himself, and they're certainly not banking on that.
Sports Info Solutions shows that Mostert faced contact at the line of scrimmage on 40 of his 85 run attempts this last season. This stat can somewhat show the struggles of the offensive line in supporting the run game. But, it doesn't tell the whole story.
Mostert remains an excellent backup option when the offensive system and scheme align with his strengths. Beyond that, his leadership qualities make him an even more valuable asset.
