The Las Vegas Raiders selected RB Ashton Jeanty 6th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. Jeanty is the fifth running back drafted by the Raiders in the first round since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, joining Marcus Allen (1982), Napoleon Kaufman (1995), Darren McFadden (2008), and Josh Jacobs (2019).
As a junior, Jeanty rushed for 2601 yards on 374 attempts (7.0 YPC) with 29 rushing touchdowns. Jeanty’s 1,970 rushing yards after contact and 164 missed tackles forced ranked 1st in FBS last season. Ashton Jeanty joined Barry Sanders as the only FBS players to surpass 2,600 rushing yards in a single season. The AP Unanimous First Team All-American finished 2nd in Heisman voting (2024).
Why Did the Raiders Draft a Running Back in the First Round?
Las Vegas desperately needed to upgrade the backfield. The team rushed for 1,357 yards in 2024, which ranked last (32nd) in the NFL. The club signed RB Raheem Mostert to a one-year $1.6M deal in free agency. Running backs Sincere McCormick, Zamir White, and Chris Collier are all in the last year of their deals. Before the NFL Draft, Dylan Laube was the only running back under contract after the 2025 season (signed through 2027).
Welcome to the Dark Side
The 2025 running back class was considered deep by many draft experts; however, Raiders General Manager John Spytek believes Ashton Jeanty was the right move for the franchise. He spoke to Raiders Columnist Paul Gutierrez following the pick.
“Super fired up to get Ashton Jeanty. Just a player that we have been targeting for a while here. He is just a great kid that can really run the football, and I am excited to bring him to Vegas and be a part of Raider Nation.” Spytek said. “It made a lot of sense at a position we need and value in Coach (Pete) Carroll’s system and Chip’s (Kelly) system. He is going to be a foundational piece for us. He is going to chew up a lot of yards and score a lot of touchdowns. That is the hope.” Las Vegas Raiders GM John Spytek tells Paul Gutierrez.
The first draft pick for a new regime is a pivotal moment for a franchise. Did General Manager John Spytek and Head Coach Pete Carroll hit the Jackpot with Ashton Jeanty?
