Thick. When first hearing the comment by Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, it might seem like another case of long-standing (but now frowned-upon) rookie hazing, but in fact, it was rookie praising.
How Did Ashton Jeanty React to Being Called Thick?
Thankfully, that’s the way the subject of Bowers’ description — running back Ashton Jeanty — took it. That one word might not sound like a compliment, but it was used by Bowers in effusively talking about the Raiders’ 2025 first-round pick, who was selected sixth overall.
“He’s a beast, he’s quick, he’s fast, he’s rocked up,” Bowers said before adding, “he’s thick, he’s pretty good.”
When told of the comment while appearing on CBS HQ, Jeanty laughed.
“You know, I appreciate him. I know what he was trying to say,” Jeanty said when asked how he felt about being called thick. “He probably hasn’t seen too many guys built like me. I don’t know if thick was the right word, but I’ll take the compliment.”
Jeanty measured 5-foot-8½ inches and 211 pounds at this year’s NFL Combine. That’s eight pounds heavier and a half-inch shorter than Las Vegas’ smallest running back last season, Ameer Abdullah. The team’s leading rusher, Alexander Mattison, is 5-11, 220, while Zamir White is nearly a giant compared to Jeanty at 6-foot, 215.
To Jeanty’s point, there aren’t many starting running backs his size.
According to official data from Stathead, out of 2,020 rostered athletes, the average height of an NFL player is 6 feet 2.073 inches (188.15 centimeters) for the 2024-25 season and the average height of an NFL running back is 5 feet 10.6 inches (179.32 centimeters) for the 2024-25 season.
Ashton Jeanty putting in work at #Raiders OTAs, the No. 6 overall pick seen here running, blocking, and receiving. @KTNV pic.twitter.com/sBG9bLSmAN
— Nick Walters (@nickwalt) May 21, 2025
In recent history, two undersized running backs stand out: Hall of Famer Barry Sanders, who was 5-8, 203 pounds, and Maurice Jones-Drew, built like a fireplug at 5-7, 210. Bowers wasn’t born when Sanders took his last NFL snap and celebrated his 12th birthday the day before Jones-Drew appeared in his last game, ironically for the Raiders (then in Oakland).
So, yes, Bowers likely hasn’t seen anyone who resembles Jeanty’s shape and thickness.
Bowers likely wouldn’t mind seeing more rushing yards as well.
Can the Raiders Improve Their Rushing Totals from the 2024 Season?
In Bowers’ rookie season with Las Vegas, the Raiders rushed for just 1,357 yards—the lowest total in the NFL — with 10 touchdowns. Mattison led the Raiders with only 420 yards.
Jeanty, who won the Doak Walker Award given to the nation’s top running back and was a Heisman Trophy finalist, ran for an NCAA-best 2,601 yards in 2024, the second-highest total in FBS history, along with 29 rushing touchdowns.
He certainly has the pedigree to give Las Vegas a significant boost in the run game.
Jeanty said his goals for his rookie year are to rush for 1,500 yards and between 10 and 20 touchdowns. The Raiders would undoubtedly welcome those numbers—and would likely have plenty of other complimentary words besides “thick” to describe their star rookie.