Raiders Emerge as Clear Frontrunner for Ashton Jeanty Draft
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty has emerged as the consensus projection for the Las Vegas Raiders’ sixth overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, with betting markets and multiple draft analysts aligning on the potential selection. The explosive back, who finished as the Heisman Trophy runner-up after a historic 2024 season, appears positioned to become the highest-drafted running back since Saquon Barkley went second overall in 2018.
According to Yahoo Sports, DraftKings has installed the Raiders as a -125 favorite to select Jeanty, with the Chicago Bears a distant second at +190. Jeanty himself acknowledged the connection following his pro day workout at Boise State, where Raiders representatives were in attendance.
Perfect Fit for Pete Carroll’s Philosophy
“Great organization,” Jeanty said of the Raiders. “They’ve got a few pieces and I know they could use a running back. So they’ve got that nice pick, number six, so, we’ll see what happens.”
The Raiders finished last in the NFL in rushing last season, averaging just 79.8 yards per gameâthe lowest mark for any team since 2022. This glaring weakness, combined with new head coach Pete Carroll’s historical preference for strong rushing attacks during his Seattle Seahawks tenure, makes the pairing seem increasingly inevitable to draft experts.
ESPN analyst Matt Miller captured this sentiment in his analysis for Sports Illustrated, stating, “This pick almost feels like chalk. The best running back in the draft lands on a team led by Pete ‘run it and let’s play great defense’ Carroll?!”
Mock Draft Consensus: Top 3 Most Likely Round 1 Picks for Each Team
— SFdata9ersđđ (@sfdata9ers) March 31, 2025
– DT Mason Graham currently has a 66% chance of being selected by the Jaguars at #5.
– RB Ashton Jeanty sits at 52% for the Raiders at #6.
(Data from 133 mock draft over the past 14 days) pic.twitter.com/B9X8Wner8W
Historic Production
Jeanty’s collegiate resume justifies the high draft consideration. The 5’9″, 215-pound back amassed an astonishing 2,601 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns while averaging 7.0 yards per carry in his final season at Boise State. He added 53 receptions over his college career, demonstrating the three-down ability coveted by NFL teams.
His combination of contact balance, burst, and vision has drawn comparisons to elite NFL backs. Draft analyst Josh Liskiewitz likened Jeanty to New Orleans Saints star Alvin Kamara, describing him as a “total-package backfield playmaker with impressive balance, footwork, vision, explosiveness and big-play ability.”
Recent Running Back Draft Trends
If selected in the top ten as projected, Jeanty would buck a recent trend of devaluation at the running back position. The 2024 NFL Draft marked a low point for the position, with the first running back (Jonathon Brooks) not selected until the 14th pick of the second roundâthe position’s worst draft placement since 2014.
Since Barkley’s selection at second overall in 2018, only Bijan Robinson (eighth overall in 2023) has been selected in the top ten. Jeanty’s exceptional talent appears poised to overcome this positional hesitancy among NFL front offices.
USA Today reports that all three of the most prominent draft analystsâMel Kiper Jr., Daniel Jeremiah, and Dane Bruglerâcurrently project Jeanty to Las Vegas at sixth overall in their most recent mock drafts.
New Offensive Core Taking Shape
The potential selection of Jeanty would continue the Raiders’ offensive reconstruction after acquiring veteran quarterback Geno Smith earlier this offseason. Former NFL executive Mike Tannenbaum believes Jeanty would “set the tempo for Las Vegas under Pete Carroll,” while ESPN’s Mel Kiper suggests he would “create a solid offensive nucleus with Smith, Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers.”
Beyond the Raiders, potential landing spots appear limited. The Dallas Cowboys (+750), San Francisco 49ers (+1400), New Orleans Saints (+1400), and New England Patriots (+1800) round out the teams with the shortest odds to select Jeanty, though all trail significantly behind Las Vegas.
Draft Capital Considerations
The Raiders’ willingness to use such premium draft capital on a running back would signal a significant philosophical commitment to returning to smash-mouth football under Carroll. While the NFL has trended toward committee backfields and passing-focused offenses, the Raiders appear poised to build their identity around a potentially transformative running back talent.
With the NFL Draft set to begin on April 24 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the Raiders’ decision with the sixth pick will be among the most closely watched early selections, potentially reshaping both the franchise’s future and perceptions about positional value in the modern NFL draft.
