Dallas Cowboys legend Michael Irvin has urged the team to draft Ashton Jeanty and compared him to Emmitt Smith.
Is Ashton Jeanty Destined for the Dallas Cowboys?
It was a season to remember for Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty. Following a 2601 rushing yards and 29 touchdown seasons, the Heisman Trophy finalist is wanted by many NFL teams in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Legendary wide receiver Michael Irvin spoke on the Up & Adams about Jeanty and is hoping the Dallas Cowboys draft him with the 12th overall pick. Irvin said “despite them bringing in a couple of RBs, I’m hoping Jeanty is there and they go get him.”
Michael Irvin wants the Dallas Cowboys to draft Ashton Jeanty and compares his impact to 3X Super Bowl champion Emmitt Smith.@heykayadams | @dallascowboys | @AshtonJeanty2 | @EmmittSmith22 pic.twitter.com/rvtg9AN2Me
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) March 24, 2025
Jeanty continued to receive praise from the former Cowboy, calling him “a difference maker, and that dude is a different dude. I witnessed it when Emmitt got here. I want that. The Cowboys should copy what Cincinnati is doing, bring in the help on defense, but let’s get Ceedee Lamb some help.”
Dallas has already added Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders to a backfield that has been torn apart in recent seasons, but those two veterans won’t add the spark that Irvin hopes Jeanty will. It could also mean they already want to run by committee and so have their eyes set on someone else for the draft.
Being compared to Emmitt Smith is extremely high praise for Jeanty. Smith spent 13 years with the Cowboys, rushing for over 1000 yards every season except his rookie and final season with the team in 2002. Smith is one of the all-time great RBs and still holds the NFL record for career rushing yards with 18355. If Jeanty can even get halfway to that, he’ll be a success.
It was a tough 2024 for the Cowboys, who missed out on the playoffs and saw their divisional rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, win the Super Bowl. Irvin talks about how they were one of the better offenses the past few years, but 2024 was a real down year for the team.
Should they take Jeanty then that is a big piece to the offense for Dak Prescott following his injury last season. It would also take some weight off the shoulders of Lamb, potentially opening up the game for other weapons in Jake Ferguson and Jalen Tolbert.
What are the chances of Jeanty being taken by another team?
Our very own mock draft also has Jeanty going to the Cowboys at pick 12, but this was prior to those free agent signings, so things may have changed. One team to keep an eye on is the Las Vegas Raiders at six.
They have so many holes in their roster, and with no franchise quarterback or RB, depending on who is on the board, they may see them take Jeanty.
The Chicago Bears at 10 are an interesting one. De’Andre Swift signed a three-year deal prior to the start of the 2024 season and was solid. Jeanty could be someone they look at to be there long-term alongside Caleb Williams, and then, moving forward, they can look to build around that.
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Dallas have made it interesting by adding Sanders and Williams, both are pretty decent RBs and it will likely neither would want to be a third choice. If they did look away from Jeanty at 12, it would be a shock, and then a team in the middle part of the first round is getting a steal.
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