The Las Vegas Raiders added a dynamic playmaker to the offense with the No.6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The team selected Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.
Jeanty is the consensus top running back in the draft class after posting a historic season at Boise State in 2024. The 21-year-old now heads to Las Vegas and will serve as the workhorse running back for Pete Carroll's squad.
Though the Raiders have pressing needs at wide receiver and cornerback and taking a running back with a premium choice can be incredibly risky, Jeanty is just too good to pass on. That said, here is how the experts graded the selection for Las Vegas.
Raiders NFL draft grades for Ashton Jeanty
Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News: A
Iyer: "The Raiders had to be nervous about being sniped by the Jaguars a pick earlier, until that team moved up to No. 2 to get Hunter. That gave Las Vegas a clear, no-brainer shot to fill their much needed feature back role to suit the mentality of Pete Carroll and Chip Kelly to better support Geno Smith and the downfield spread passing game."
Borquez: "There were some talks of Jeanty possibly going in the top 5, but the Raiders ended up with the best-case scenario after the trade between the Jaguars and Browns went down. Las Vegas' running game was poor last season. They ranked last in total yards and yards per carry. Jeanty's presence will significantly help in this department and the passing game, and give head coach Pete Carroll his Marshawn Lynch."
Prisco: "The Raiders and Pete Carroll want to run the football, so they end up with the best back in the draft. Normally I hate back this high. But this kid is special, Nice pick."
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY: B
Middlehurst-Schwartz: "The Raiders had long been linked to Jeanty, but it appeared the Jaguars - or another team willing to trade up - could leapfrog them. But the draft dominoes allowed the Silver and Black to make a massive move to transform the league's last-ranked rushing attack. Can Jeanty do it alone, though? The Heisman Trophy runner-up has an immaculate ability to create yardage by slipping past would-be tacklers or bouncing off them, but we've long seen the limitations that even elite running backs can face when not surrounded by proper support. Las Vegas has a long way to go in building out its line, receiving corps and defense to make this pick pay off."
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