The Denver Broncos had a dream scenario that they would have a chance to land Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty in the 2025 NFL Draft. But it was always a pipe dream and on Thursday, that pipe burst.
The Las Vegas Raiders wasted no time in selecting Jeanty with the No. 6 overall pick in the draft. Jeanty becomes the first player selected by the Raiders in the Pete Carroll era and the fact that Jeanty has been modeling his game after Marshawn Lynch makes the pick all the more appropriate.
The Broncos will now be tasked with shutting him down when they face the Raiders twice per year in the AFC West. Jeanty was nearly impossible to bring down at times last season as he rushed for 2,601 yards (second most in a season in NCAA history) and 29 touchdowns. That allowed him to finish second in the Heisman Trophy voting.
It's a similar situation to last season when the Broncos were tied to tight end Brock Bowers. It was the right pick to select Bo Nix, but the Raiders jumped on Bowers with the very next selection and he proceeded to have the best season a rookie tight end has ever had.
The Raiders are becoming a problem to deal with on offense and the addition of Jeanty gives the team the best running back prospect to come into the league in years. The Broncos need a running back as much as any team in the league, and they would have loved to grab Jeanty, but they will have to settle for a different player at the position.
The Broncos beat the Raiders in both meetings last season, snapping an 8-game losing streak to them in the process.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
MORE BRONCOS NEWS
Final Broncos mock draft predictions from Omarion Hampton to Emeka Egbuka
Broncos tied to three of the most shocking moments in NFL draft history
Denver Broncos' three best value draft picks of the last decade
Broncos have third-best pick in the seventh round in NFL Draft history
List of running backs on Broncos' radar suggests position won't be taken in round 1