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Ashton Jeanty Reveals Biggest Non-Maxx Crosby Leader on Raiders

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Austin C. Boyd | Last updated Jun 7, 2025 2:12 PM ET

Over the years, defensive end Maxx Crosby has cemented himself as the face and leader of the Las Vegas Raiders. He came into the NFL as a soft-spoken player out of a small school, but he's developed into a strong voice for the franchise.

Running back Ashton Jeanty is just joining the team, and everybody already knows that Crosby is the leader, but there's another player standing out to the rookie.

"On the offensive side, Geno (Smith), of course, just being the quarterback leading everybody, communicating," Jeanty told Athlon Sports when asked which players outside of Crosby have stood out as a leader. "It's good to have a guy on both sides of the ball to lead your team."

Smith has only been with the Raiders for a few months, but it makes sense that he's already standing out as a leader. He's the team's quarterback, and he's been in the NFL for a long time.

He knows what it takes to be a strong leader. Last year, Gardner Minshew and Aidan O'Connell weren't able to take strong leadership roles due to their poor play.

Smith has proven to be a capable quarterback who can win games, so it'll be easier for him to command respect. As Jeanty pointed out, the Raiders now have a strong offensive leader in Smith and a strong defensive leader in Crosby.

It's easy to see Jeanty eventually becoming a team captain due to the leadership he displayed during his time playing for Boise State.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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