Raiders draft potential generational RB Ashton Jeanty
After weeks of speculation, the Las Vegas Raiders bolstered their backfield by selecting Boise State standout running back Ashton Jeanty with the sixth overall pick in this year’s draft.
Jeanty became the first running back since Saquon Barkley to be selected within the first six picks of the draft.
“I’m very proud of that,” Jeanty said via ESPN. “… I’m going to show everybody the position is valuable and it is great to take an exceptional running back in the first round.”
Jeanty was widely regarded as one of the best prospects of the 2025 NFL draft. He is coming off finishing second in the Heisman Trophy voting after notching 2,601 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns while rushing for at least 200 yards six times.
It featured him recording 1,733 rushing yards after contact, which was nearly 600 yards more than any other player last season.
“[Jeanty’s] ability to make plays when it doesn’t look like there’s [anything] there, Marshawn did that throughout his career,” Carroll said. “There’s a special makeup in Ashton.”
The Raiders had a desperate need to address their running game after finishing 31st in rushing yards per game last season. Jeanty will quickly move into the primary spot as the bell cow option in Las Vegas’ revamped offensive game plan under new head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.
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It should likely see Jeanty featured heavily like Marshawn Lynch once was during his time with the Seattle Seahawks. The Raiders will be a new-look bunch with offseason addition Geno Smith guiding the offense.
