It seems like the Las Vegas Raiders and Ashton Jeanty have been linked since the team hired Pete Carroll as their new coach. Carroll’s biggest successes as a coach have been with an elite player in the offensive backfield, whether that was with the USC Trojans and Reggie Bush or with the Seattle Seahawks and Marshawn Lynch.
While the rebuilding Raiders have many needs, there haven’t been many dissenting voices when it comes to drafting the potentially generational RB. But in a recent article by Bleacher Report, they are urged to address the pressing needs of the cornerback or right tackle over Jeanty.
Argument for Las Vegas Raiders Not Drafting Ashton Jeanty
“Jeanty may be a beast of a runner, but the team should quake at the idea of spending the sixth overall pick on the position. Anyone can guarantee with 100 percent certainty that this year’s group of running backs will produce multiple productive runners at the NFL level. A team doesn’t need to spend its most valuable asset to fill the position, not when other needs areas could be addressed with similarly-graded talents,” BR writes.
“For example, Bleacher Report has Jeanty graded as the sixth overall prospect. However, the Raiders could invest in a premium position with a prospect like cornerback Will Johnson or offensive tackle Armand Membou and still get similar value. Las Vegas can then land a starting-caliber running back option on Day 2.”
Regardless of what BR thinks is the best, it seems the Raiders are on a collision course with Jeanty. According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, many people around the NFL believe strongly that the Vegas front office and coaching staff have ‘fallen in love’ with Jeanty and think he’ll be the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday night.
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranks Jeanty as the top running back and third-best prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft class, writing, “Jeanty displays exceptional contact balance, run instincts and versatility in the passing game, reminiscent of LaDainian Tomlinson. He has the talent to emerge as a high-level running back early in his NFL career.”