The 2025 NFL Draft is right around the corner, and running back Ashton Jeanty is picking up steam of where he may land in the draft. Jeanty is one of the most sought-after running backs in the 2025 NFL Draft class, and he’s set himself apart from the other running backs in the class, making him the clear-cut No. 1 RB.
In a recent mock draft from ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jeanty has been picked to go to the Las Vegas Raiders as the first running back expected to be selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. This fits the Raiders, considering they’re coming off a 32nd-place run game disaster in the 2024 NFL season.
RB Ashton Jeanty Mocked to Raiders After 32nd-Place Run Game in 2024
In 2024, Alexander Mattison led the Raiders’ ground game, racking up 420 yards on the season. Ameer Abdullah was the closest behind Mattiso, with 311 yards on the ground. Zamir White and Sincere McCormick each had 183 yards on the ground. This was just the tip of the iceberg on a season that Las Vegas would like to forget.
“Last in rushing yards per game at 79.8. Last in yards per rush at 3.6. They tied for the second-fewest runs of 10 or more yards with 34. That’s what Las Vegas produced on the ground last season,” Kiper wrote in his late mock draft, picking the Raiders to draft Jeanty at No. 6.
“New coach Pete Carrollwillo wants much more out of his run game, and Jeanty could immediately flip the script. He displayed excellent speed, contact balance, and vision en route to 2,601 rushing yards last season. He could be an elite three-down back in the NFL.”
Jeanty has already established himself as the best running back in college football and certainly the best running back in this year’s draft class. He was also the month’s flavor well before the Raiders landed Geno Smith, especially after realizing Sanders may not drop down to No. 6 overall.
The Raiders will meet with Jeanty this week, along with quarterback Quinn Ewers. Jeanty is expected to be the Raiders’ No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and multiple NFL analysts, including Sports Illustrated’s Daniel Flick, have predicted this.
KEEP READING: NFL Draft Rumors: Raiders Picking Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty at No. 6 Might Prove Costly
The Las Vegas general manager, John Spytek, even spoke about the pressure he’s had on him from a very surprising source: his son, Jack. Jack told Spytek he would “find a new family” if the Raiders didn’t lock down the standout running back.
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