Running back Ashton Jeanty lost a closely contested vote for the 2024 Heisman Trophy to Colorado two-way phenom Travis Hunter by just 214 votes. However, in the court of opinion on the NFL Draft, the former Boise State running back, who ran for 2,601 yards last year, trails Hunter by a mile.
In previous generations, Jeanty would have been a lock for a top-three pick. Now, thanks to advanced metrics that measure a player’s usage and predicted drop-off over time — whether fair or not — teams have deprioritized running backs in the first round. Elite-level running back prospects still get into the first round, but the days of five running backs going in the first round are ancient history.
Nowadays, maybe one or two running backs go in the first round, but a back has to be considered truly exceptional, think Saquon Barkley or Bijan Robinson, to even go in the top 10. So, where will Jeanty land?
Is Ashton Jeanty a ‘Blue-Chip’ Prospect?
NFL insider Peter Schrager addressed Jeanty’s place in the draft on “The Pat McAfee Show” on April 15.
“You go name by name, and really there’s only two blue-chip prospects across the board when I talk to these GMs and that’s Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter,” Schrager said.
“And then Ashton Jeanty is one of those guys that you wouldn’t draft him in the top three. Other than that, it’s wide open,” Schrager concluded.
"Ashton Jeanty is a blue chip prospect but I don't think he's gonna get drafted in the top three..
This draft is wide open" ~ @PSchrags #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/s3eM6oD13T
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 15, 2025
Aside from the fact that most of the teams at the top of this year’s draft have more pressing needs than a star running back, PFSN’s most recent mock draft has the Las Vegas Raiders drafting Jeanty sixth overall. Considering new head coach Pete Carroll’s preference to center his offense around a strong running game, this is the most logical place for him to land.
With newly acquired quarterback Geno Smith in the fold, Jeanty would provide the perfect balance for the Raiders’ offensive attack. Smith did well with the Seahawks when he had Kenneth Walker III leading the ground game.
Having Jeanty would create a natural opportunity to open up play-action passing, keeping linebackers and safeties honest. Combining a 1,000-yard runner with a 4,000-yard passer is usually the basis for a solid attack.
Ashton Jeanty tells @PatMcAfeeShow that the #Raiders took him and other draft prospects out to Topgolf during their visit last Wednesday 🏌️♂️
In the group were Michigan DT Mason Graham, LSU OT Will Campbell, Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart, Texas QB Quinn Ewers, Ohio State QB Will Howard,… pic.twitter.com/fd7NEj153d
— Nick Walters (@nickwalt) April 15, 2025
The rub is the Raiders’ offensive line. According to PFSN’s OL+ metric, the Raiders grade out at 69.4 for a D+, putting them 23rd overall. They had trouble against the blitz, with a 46.6% pressure rate (28th), though they were relatively solid against a straight three- or four-man rush (31.6%, 13th). Meanwhile, the run game was pretty gruesome, ranking 22nd in RBWR and 21st in RBYBC (0.85).
With or without Jeanty, the Raiders will need to see drastic improvement up front, or else their skill position upgrades may be all for naught.