Raiders bet on Ashton Jeanty, who is Boise State’s highest-ever NFL Draft pick

GREEN BAY, Wis. (Idaho Stateman) — Ashton Jeanty is officially a Las Vegas Raider.

The Raiders selected Jeanty sixth overall on Thursday night in the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Jeanty is now the highest draft pick in Boise State history, surpassing offensive tackle Ryan Clady, who was taken 12th overall by the Denver Broncos in 2008.

The Raiders finished 4-13 and at the bottom of the AFC West in 2024; they enter 2025 with a new quarterback and head coach. NFL great Pete Carroll, a Super Bowl champion with Seattle, broke a two-year hiatus to return to coaching with Las Vegas, and the team signed Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith, with whom Carroll is quite familiar.

Carroll coached RB Marshawn Lynch at Seattle, Jeanty’s favorite player growing up. Moments after slipping on a Raiders cap and stepping on stage in Green Bay, Jeanty was asked by ESPN how he’ll bring “Beast Mode” to Sin City.

“I think that same energy and attitude that comes with that,” Jeanty responded. “That no one can tackle him on the football field.”

Jeanty could immediately be the starting running back in Vegas, with former Miami RB Raheem Mostert holding the top spot on the depth chart after signing as a free agent. Mostert spent most of last season hurt and has been injury-prone his entire career.

The Raiders entered the draft in desperate need of a blue-chip running back. Las Vegas ended 2024 last in the league in rushing yards per game (79.8) and yards per rush (3.6), and tied for second worst in runs of 10 or more yards with 34.

Jeanty became the highest-drafted running back since the New York Giants selected Saquon Barkley second overall in 2018. He also restarted what Boise State hopes will become a new streak of NFL draftees.

The Broncos had at least one player selected every year between 2010 and 2023, but that great run ended with the 2024 NFL Draft. Jeanty will go down as one of Boise State’s greatest players.

He ended the season with the second-most rushing yards in a single season in college football history (2,601), and finished second in Heisman Trophy voting by the closest margin for the award since 2009.

The Heisman winner, Travis Hunter, was drafted No. 2 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars, who traded up with Cleveland.

It long felt like Las Vegas would be the destination for Jeanty. Raiders general manager John Spytek was the only GM to attend Boise State’s pro day. Spytek also told the NFL’s SiriusXM radio show that his son told him “if we don’t pick Ashton Jeanty at No. 6, that he’s walking out of the family and he’s going to find somebody else.”

There was doubt that it would be that simple. Sports Illustrated reported Wednesday that Jacksonville, the Denver Broncos and the Chicago Bears were all interested in Jeanty. Jacksonville made a different move, and the Bears and Broncos opted not to trade up.

Chicago drafted Idaho product Colston Loveland, a former Michigan tight end, with the 10th pick.

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