The Las Vegas Raiders have always been the type of franchise that marches to the beat of its own drummer – for better or for worse. The Raiders’ acquisition of Geno Smith has opened the door for a non-quarterback first-round draft pick. While many anticipated the Raiders selecting quarterback Shedeur Sanders, the presence of Smith allows them to explore other options.
One of the most popular options is Ashton Jeanty. As of Thursday, prominent analysts like Todd McShay, Mel Kiper Jr., and Daniel Jeremiah have all mocked Jeanty to the Las Vegas Raiders with the 6th overall pick.
But taking a running back in the first round, especially as high as No. 6 has fallen well out of favor in the NFL. Unless, that is, the running back is a generational talent like Derrick Henry or Saquon Barkley. This makes drafting Jeanty a very Raiders move — for better or for worse.
New head coach, Pete Carroll, may provide insight into their draft strategy. During his successful tenure with the Seattle Seahawks, Carroll’s teams consistently prioritized the run game, ranking among the top three in rushing attempts in six of eight seasons and among the top four in rushing yards in those same six seasons. If Carroll intends to maintain a run-focused approach, drafting Jeanty would be a logical step.
New Mock Draft Send Ashton Jeanty To Las Vegas Raiders
Ashton Jeanty’s remarkable 2024 season at Boise State catapulted him into the national spotlight. His exceptional performance, which included a second-place finish in the Heisman Trophy vote and the second-most rushing yards in a single college football season, just shy of Barry Sanders’ record, prompted his decision to enter the NFL Draft. Jeanty is widely projected to be the first running back selected on April 24th.
However, pinpointing Jeanty’s exact draft position remains challenging. The evolving value of running backs in the NFL has created uncertainty around his draft stock. Nevertheless, a consensus is emerging regarding his potential landing spots as the draft approaches.
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It appears unlikely that Jeanty will fall past the Dallas Cowboys at pick #12. The Chicago Bears’ successful free agency, addressing needs on both lines, has positioned them to potentially select Jeanty at pick #10, should he be available. However, given the “generational” talent label applied to Jeanty, he’s increasingly projected to be chosen even earlier.