Ashton Jeanty had to pay to get No. 2 with Vegas — enough for a ‘nice Mercedes’
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Ashton Jeanty paid Daniel Carlson a high five-figure sum for jersey No. 2.
- Jeanty cited family ties and personal history behind his desire for the number.
- NFL players often negotiate payments or gifts to acquire preferred jersey numbers.
Ashton Jeanty will wear his No. 2 jersey when he suits up for the Las Vegas Raiders later this year, but obtaining that number came at a steep price for the NFL rookie — or, at least, a steep price for most.
Jeanty revealed to NFL reporter Kay Adams that he paid kicker Daniel Carlson well into the high five-figure range to get the No. 2 jersey. Carlson previously switched from No. 8 to No. 2 in 2020 after former Raiders QB Marcus Mariota wanted No. 8.
“You could probably buy a house, like a nice-sized house … ” Jeanty began telling Adams, before remembering what the housing market in his new city is like.
“Actually, I’m not going to say a house, not in Vegas. I’m going to say a car, like a nice Mercedes GLE.”
How much is Mercedes GLE? Vehicle valuation group Kelley Blue Book puts those luxury vehicles starting at $63,000 but rising to as high as $90,350.
It’s not unusual for players to pay a teammate to wear the number they want or are used to having. Houston wide receiver Stefon Diggs reportedly paid safety Jimmie Ward $100,000 for the No. 14 jersey in 2023, while Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani gifted pitcher Joe Kelly and his wife a Porsche as a thank you for No. 17.
Jeanty told Adams that he initially asked the Raiders’ equipment manager about taking the number, and the manager put him in touch with Carlson.
“I called him and I’m like, ‘I’m trying to get that No. 2. I’m willing to negotiate whatever you’re thinking,’” Jeanty said. “I gave him what I was thinking first, then he came back, and I’m like, ‘I gotta do it. I got to drop that little bag for No. 2.’”
Why was Jeanty so adamant about wearing No. 2? Aside from his nickname being “Deuce,” the number also means a lot to his family.
“I’ve worn it the majority of my career. It’s the day greatness was born — the day I was born, December 2nd,” Jeanty said. “It’s a family number; all of my family members who play sports, they wear No. 2 as well. So it means a lot.”
This story was originally published May 21, 2025 at 1:47 PM.
