Field Yates: Ashton Jeanty Could Go as High as No. 6 to Raiders in 2025 NFL Draft

Running backs have generally been devalued in the NFL in both free agency and at the draft, but that may not matter much for Ashton Jeanty.

ESPN's Field Yates said during Thursday's First Draft that he believes the dynamic Boise State running back could be off the board as high as No. 6 to the Las Vegas Raiders (25:20 mark).

Perhaps the NFL's running back renaissance in 2024—when players like Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry had massive seasons on relatively affordable contracts—will have teams viewing the position a bit differently going forward.

Certainly, Jeanty seems like a safe bet to be a star in the NFL after rushing for an incredible 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns during his junior season. He would be a massive upgrade for the Raiders if they went that route, with Alexander Mattison, Ameer Abdullah, Sincere McCormick and Zamir White combining to rush for just 1,097 yards last season. The Raiders, in the process, were the NFL's worst rushing team in 2024 (79.8 yards per game).

Jeanty would fill a need, but the Raiders also have other needs across the roster at arguably more important positions, including quarterback. So while they could talk themselves into Jeanty at No. 6, they may be better suited addressing other positions first.