Raiders Nab Ashton Jeanty at No. 6, Betting Big on Boise State Star

Ashton Jeanty, the Boise State sensation and Heisman Trophy finalist, just made his Las Vegas dreams a reality. With the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Raiders snapped up Jeanty, making him the first running back taken this year. No surprises for anyone who’s been tracking the pre-draft buzz—Jeanty and the Raiders have been circling each other for weeks.

Las Vegas desperately needed a shot of adrenaline in their ground game after finishing dead last in rushing last season. Jeanty’s arrival is set to pump new life into an offense now helmed by head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Geno Smith, who’ll be handing off to the rookie phenom. And let’s not forget—rookie tight end Brock Bowers already made his presence felt last season after his first-round debut, so the Raiders are clearly stacking up on young, explosive talent.

Jeanty’s draft stock soared thanks to his jaw-dropping performances for the Broncos. At 5-foot-9 and 211 pounds, he’s the kind of back who can break a game open—think Saquon Barkley’s zip with a side of Derrick Henry’s power. Last season, Jeanty racked up 29 rushing touchdowns (second in the FBS), led the entire country with a wild 7.0 yards per carry, and topped the NCAA with a staggering 2,750 all-purpose yards. If you’re a linebacker, you better start stretching—Jeanty made a habit of breaking off 50+ yard runs in nine different games last year, leaving defenders grasping at air.

His combo of speed, power, and tackle-busting stubbornness made him the nightmare of every defensive coordinator in college. The only thing that kept him from running away with the Heisman was Colorado’s Travis Hunter, who went second overall to the Browns this year. Now, Jeanty faces bigger, meaner defenders in the NFL, but the Raiders are crossing their fingers that he’ll be their next All-Pro. Hey, with those college stats, who can blame them for dreaming big?