The Las Vegas Raiders could be about to draft one of the most exciting prospects to come out of college in recent years.
At least, that’s according to the latest three-round mock draft from PFSN’s Justin Lewis, who has the team taking running back Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 overall pick.
Las Vegas Raiders Draft Ashton Jeanty in Latest PFSN Mock Draft
The Raiders struggled to establish a run game in 2024 after losing three-time Pro Bowler Josh Jacobs in free agency. The team managed the fewest rushing yards per attempt in the NFL, as Alexander Mattison, Zamir White, Ameer Abdullah, and Sincere McCormick all attempted to turn things around.
One team that didn’t struggle to run the ball in 2024 was Boise State. That was mostly due to Jeanty, who led the FBS in both rushing yards (2,601) and rushing touchdowns (29). Jeanty’s seven yards per carry in 2024 was almost double the 3.6 yards per carry managed by the Raiders.
While some teams have to balance team needs with available talent on the board, Jeanty would fix the Raiders’ biggest problem while representing value at sixth overall. Lewis notes how irregular it is for a running back to be picked so high in the draft but makes the case for Jeanty.
“It’s rare for a running back to be selected in the top 10 of the NFL Draft these days, with a few exceptions. The Atlanta Falcons picked Bijan Robinson at No. 8 overall in 2023, and the New York Giants drafted Saquon Barkley at No. 2 overall in 2018.
Ashton Jeanty put up better numbers than both Barkley and Robinson in college, and he is the complete package at running back coming into the NFL.”
What Would Jeanty Bring to the Raiders?
Jeanty is widely regarded as one of the most exciting and talented players in the draft. The explosive running back surpassed 100 rushing yards in every game he played in 2024, even with opposing teams focusing primarily on stopping him. Jeanty scored three or more rushing touchdowns in six different games that season, with his dominance highlighted by a jaw-dropping 267-yard, six-touchdown performance against Georgia Southern.
Jeanty’s PFSN scouting report gives an insight into what makes him so special.
“There are few running backs in recent memory that are entering the draft with as much hype as Jeanty, and with good reason. Jeanty offers outstanding playmaking ability and has the game-breaking attributes that can justify a team spending high draft capital at a non-priority position such as running back.
Jeanty offsets his average size with outstanding speed, burst, and vision. Jeanty is a short running back but has a dense build with a sturdy lower body. While not possessing imposing size, Jeanty has rare contact balance and can easily bounce off would-be tacklers without losing speed or balance.
He is a physical runner who flashes a strong stiff arm, and it often takes multiple tacklers to bring him down. In short, Jeanty is a player who defensive coordinators preach about gang tackling all week, considering his ability to break through tacklers late in the down for extra yards.”
While there will likely be good running back prospects available on Day Two, none offer the franchise-altering potential that Jeanty does. With a new general manager and head coach in Las Vegas, it will be interesting to see how the team approaches the 2025 NFL Draft.