Raiders Draft 2025: Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is an all-around fit

Elite prospect has the size, speed, to make an impact as workhorse in Las Vegas

Ashton Jeanty is a game-breaking running back who turns up the volume in the most crucial moments. The Boise State workhorse can put a team on his back, produce, and provide that beacon of light as a “follow me” type.

The Las Vegas Raiders don’t have anyone of that mentality in the running back room.

The Silver & Black did have a back of similar ilk — Josh Jacobs, now with the Green Bay Packers. So much so, then-head coach Antonio Pierce dubbed him “the heartbeat of the team”.

Since Jacobs’ departure to Wisconsin, the Raiders offensive backfield went from heartbeat to flatlined. Jeanty, who visited the Raiders this week, is the ample defibrillator, though.

By The Numbers
Ashton Jeanty, Running Back, Boise State

• 2024: 14 games, 374 carries, 2,601 yards, 29 touchdowns; 23 receptions, 138 yards, 1 touchdown
• Career: 40 games, 750 carries, 4,769 yards, 50 touchdowns; 80 receptions, 862 yards, 6 touchdowns

How He Fits

While the running back position has become devalued of sorts — it did receive a shot in the arm this past season from Philadelphia Eagles’ tailback Saquon Barkley — for a Raiders team that produced the 32nd-ranked (dead last) ground game in the league in 2024, a bona fide workhorse halfback is a must.

Hence, Jeanty.

With his vision, balance, speed, and power, Jeanty can be face of the Raiders rushing resurgence. An elusive runner who can make defenders miss inside, outside, and in the open field, Jeanty is a top-flight prospect who can become the face of a Raiders offense that must establish an identity in 2025 under head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.

Jeanty has shown the ability to create yardage based on his talent alone that doesn’t rely heavily on the quality of the blocking in front of him. Adding Jeanty to a Raiders running back room elevates the competition exponentially and also helps new quarterback Geno Smith by giving him an electric tag team partner in the backfield.

And, Las Vegas made it no secret it intends to run the ball.

So why not grab an elite prospect who can make that happen?

Raiders running back coach Deland McCullough recently spoke to Raiders.com during a Q&A session and the traits or characteristics in a running back that translates from college to the pro level he talked about, Jeanty has.

“All the things still are tried and true. Guys who are mentally and physically tough, guys who can learn. But then when you start talking about the physical traits, guys who can make people miss, guys who can run with speed, run with power, catch the ball. I’m big on guys being able to protect the quarterback,” McCullough said. “So, there’s a lot of things as we look at it and I’m kind of looking at it very similar to the way I recruited the past several years. If you can find one guy that can do everything, that’s great.”

Strengths

Compact but chiseled at 5-foot-8 ¹⁄₂ and 211 pounds, Jeanty has an uncanny suddenness to his game. The explosive nature of Jeanty’s style jumps off film immediately as he’s able to generate burst instantly which immediately puts the defense on its heels.

There’s very little speed drop off as once Jeanty generates the momentum, it continues to build. And when he needs to hit defenders with a lethal cut or juke, he regains the speed very quickly limiting read and react time.

This is made worse for opposing defenses as Jeanty also has long speed to take any carry to the house.

Jeanty’s legs are continuously moving and he generates power with that drive which will endear him to his next coach.

He’s also showcased advanced pass-protection skills when asked to block. Jeanty can read oncoming traffic and diagnose which defender to deflect and stymie. His overall strength allows him to anchor and squat even against larger defenders looking to hurt his quarterback.

Weaknesses

The main concern with Jeanty is workload. His 2024 campaign for Boise State was ludicrous in terms of touches: 374 carries total. Of that sum, 279 arrived in the final nine games this past season. Add in his catch totals and Jeanty was three touches short of 400 at 397.

Even at a very young age of 21 years old, the NFL team that picks him may want to exhibit load management his rookie season. I say may, because if the Raiders take the talented tailback, limiting his carries may not be ideal. As you don’t keep a thoroughbred in the stable come race day.

Another area of opportunity for Jeanty is balancing urgency with patience.

Improving that aspect at the next level can help him truly maximize yardage as gearing down allows blocks to develop. Now, he isn’t a Zamir White type that plows into the back of his offensive linemen with wreck less abandon. Jeanty has the vision, agility, and explosiveness to wiggle or power through traffic.

Also, honing in on route running will make Jeanty an even more dangerous option in the passing game. His heaviest participation as a pass catcher came in 2023 where he caught 43 passes for 569 yards and five touchdowns.

Projection

Jeanty is quite the popular selection for the Raiders in various mock drafts — whether at sixth overall (where Las Vegas picks in the first round) or even in trade-down scenarios.

The constant prognostications are likely supported by the fact that Raiders general manager John Spytek and McCullough were both present in Boise for the Broncos’ Pro Day two weeks ago.

That all said, Jeanty is destined to be a first-round selection later this month with the highest projection being sixth to the Raiders with the lowest at 17th to the Cincinnati Bengals.

How early the Boise State running back goes will go a long way into answering if there’s indeed a rejuvenation at the position group or it’s still a devalued spot.

While stranger things have occurred come the draft, I’m highly dubious of Jeanty falling in the second round, a stanza where Las Vegas does pick at No. 37 overall.