There’s no doubt Ashton Jeanty is the top running back in the 2025 class and will be a first-round selection in the NFL Draft. Even though NFL teams have been hesitant to draft running backs early in recent years, Jeanty’s talent is undeniable and he’s expected to be off the board quickly.
Saquon Barkley’s success with the Philadelphia Eagles may have started to shift the way NFL owners and general managers value the running back position. Barkley was simply spectacular with the Eagles-not only did he play a key role in their Super Bowl win, but he also became the highest-paid running back in NFL history.
Ashton Jeanty sees himself as the next Saquon Barkley
Today, Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey are the headliners at the running back position. Both have become key examples of how valuable running backs can still be in the modern NFL.
Just a week before the Draft, Jeanty published a piece in The Players’ Tribune, where he said that watching Barkley’s incredible season made him believe he can do something similar in the league.
“Most people watched the Eagles win the Super Bowl a couple of months ago, saw Saquon run through everyone in the playoffs, and thought: This is amazing,” Jeanty wrote. “I watched it and thought something different. I thought: That can be me.”
He doubled down on that belief, saying he can replicate what Barkley did in Philly.
“If you pick me, it’s simple: I’m coming to your franchise to do what Saquon and the Eagles just did,” Jeanty wrote. “I’m coming to win, big, soon.”
Jeanty is the favorite to be drafted by the Raiders
According to betting odds, Ashton Jeanty is the favorite to be selected with the 6th overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders. The Boise State running back has already had private workouts with the team, and all signs point to a potential move to a franchise now led by quarterback Geno Smith-and with Tom Brady playing a role in the front office, it’s a compelling situation to watch.
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