The Las Vegas Raiders are currently the betting favorites to draft running back Ashton Jeanty at -125, and they’ve been heavily rumored to be interested in him for some time. This is a significant jump from less than a month ago, when they were given +120 odds to end up with Las Vegas.
These odds have shifted considerably also among other NFL teams. Initially, the Dallas Cowboys were the favorites, followed by the Chicago Bears. Now, the Raiders have moved to the top of the board, surpassing Chicago, which held the position for over two weeks.
Historically, the Raiders haven’t avoided making bold moves with their first-round NFL draft picks, including selecting running backs. In 2019, they took Josh Jacobs with the 24th overall pick.
However, a key question remains: how much would a running back, even one as talented as Jeanty, truly help the Raiders at this juncture? While they’ve recently traded for quarterback Geno Smith, potentially addressing their QB situation, the team has other significant needs. As Pete Carroll enters his first season as head coach, it’s reasonable to expect Las Vegas to prioritize positions other than running back.
The Raiders’ rushing attack struggled mightily last season. They ranked last in the league in rushing yards per game (79.8) and were the only team to average fewer than 80 rushing yards per contest.
FOX Sports NFL analyst Rob Rang’s latest mock draft projects Jeanty to be selected by the Raiders with the sixth overall pick. “Now that the Raiders have Geno Smith at quarterback, addressing a rushing attack that averaged an NFL-worst 3.6 yards per carry would seem to be the next logical step,” Rang wrote. “Sure, this year’s running back class is deep enough to find a quality starting candidate later, but Jeanty is special — and nothing about the Raiders’ moves this offseason suggests they’re in the mood for patience.”
Las Vegas Raiders Odds On Favorite To Pick Ashton Jeanty At 2025 NFL Draft
Here are the odds for the Top 10 picks, via DraftKings:
1. Titans: Miami quarterback Cam Ward is an overwhelming -20,000 favorite.
2. Browns: Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter is a -350 favorite.
3. Giants: Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter is a -300 favorite.
4. Patriots LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell is a -225 favorite.
5. Jaguars: Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham is a -130 favorite.
6. Raiders: Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is a -125 favorite.
7. Jets: Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou is a -115 favorite.
8. Panthers: Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker is the most likely pick at +150.
9. Saints: Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders is the most likely pick at +200.
10. Bears: Jeanty is the most likely pick at +300.
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Jeanty comes off a prolific three-year career as a Boise State Bronco, where he amassed 4,769 rushing yards and 50 touchdowns. His 2,601 rushing yards this past season rank second all-time on the single-season rushing yards list, trailing only the legendary Barry Sanders, who rushed for 2,628 yards in 1988 at Oklahoma State.
In terms of draft capital, Dallas holds the 12th overall pick in the first round and the 44th overall pick in the second round. Chicago owns picks No. 10, 39, and 41. Las Vegas possesses picks No. 6, 37, and 68 in the first three rounds.
Jeanty, in contrast, consistently demonstrated his rushing prowess in college. He averaged 5.3 yards per carry as a freshman, 6.1 as a sophomore, and 7.0 as a junior. The first-team All-American and two-time Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year also led the nation in carries last year with 374.