With the No. 6 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders selected Boise State Running Back Ashton Jeanty. The runner-up for the Heisman Trophy gained 2,601 yards and scored 29 touchdowns for the Broncos. He won the Maxwell Award, the Doak Walker Award, the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, and was a unanimous All-American.
How Will Jeanty Fit With the Las Vegas Raiders?
New Head Coach Pete Carroll loves to build around a running back – see Marshawn Lynch. Jeanty gives him the new “Beast Mode.” The Raiders running game took a major hit last season when Josh Jacobs left in free agency for the Packers. Las Vegas used a host of veteran running backs last season, but none worked out. The running game was widely known in the NFL as one of the worst in the league, rushing for a league-low 79.8 yards per game.
Zamir White showed enough promises in 2023 for the Raiders to let Jacobs go. He only played in eight games with 183 yards rushing and 1 touchdown last season. Jeanty instantly brings a running game back to Las Vegas. He also scored 50 rushing touchdowns in three seasons and had another six receiving.
He led Boise State to a 12-2 record. Carroll is trying to revive the Raiders, who are starved to make the playoffs. Brock Bowers emerged as one of the best tight ends in the NFL as a rookie and Carroll filled the quarterback spot with his old Seattle Quarterback Geno Smith. Jeanty gives him a powerful, yet quick running back, to round out the offense.
Final Thoughts
This was a no-brainer pick for the Raiders. Carroll wants to build around a running back and Jeanty has been compared to Dallas Cowboys Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith. The Raiders need a power back to take pressure off Smith and Jeanty fits that role. His ability to break tackles running between the tackles will help a suspect Raiders offensive line. He also is known as a good receiver coming out of the backfield. He is only the fifth running back selected in the first round in the past five years and is the highest Boise State draftee ever.
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