Raiders GM honors son’s desire, choices Jeanty

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  Ryan McFaddenApr 24, 2025, 08:47 PM ET

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  Ryan McFadden covers the Las Vegas Raiders for ESPN’s NFL Country. Previous to ESPN, McFadden used to be a Denver Broncos beat reporter for the Denver Submit. McFadden additionally wrote in regards to the Baltimore Ravens and College of Maryland athletics for The Baltimore Solar.

HENDERSON, Nev. — The Las Vegas Raiders decided on Boise State working again Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 select within the NFL draft Thursday night time, their first select underneath trainer Pete Carroll and common supervisor John Spytek.

Jeanty figured early that Las Vegas could be his vacation spot. Remaining month, Spytek jokingly stated on SiriusXM Radio that his oldest son, Jack, would go away the circle of relatives if the staff did not take Jeanty.

“After I [saw] that pop out on social media, I am like, ‘Guy, there is no means they are now not going to pick out me at No. 6 if I am there,'” Jeanty stated.

Mentioned Spytek on the finish of the primary around: “I am satisfied that I nonetheless have either one of my sons in my space and be expecting them to transport to Vegas this summer time.”

Ashton Jeanty stated he’s “proud” to turn into the primary working again taken throughout the first six choices of the NFL draft since 2018, when Saquon Barkley used to be picked No. 2 by means of the Giants. Kirby Lee-Imagn Photographs

By way of drafting Jeanty, Spytek stated Las Vegas has a powerful basis in position on offense with tight finish Brock Bowers, large receiver Jakobi Meyers and new quarterback Geno Smith.

In 2024, Bowers and Meyers each and every recorded greater than 1,000 receiving yards. Smith, a two-time Professional Bowler, broke the Seattle Seahawks’ report for passing yards and final touch charge in his ultimate season with the franchise.

The Raiders traded for Smith and later signed him to a two-year extension.

“We have now gotten tougher to protect,” Spytek stated.

Jeanty, thought to be one of the crucial peak gamers on this draft elegance, had a historical 2024 season at Boise State. The Texas local used to be the Heisman Trophy runner-up after completing with 2,601 speeding yards — 2nd maximum in a season in FBS historical past, trailing best Barry Sanders in 1988. Jeanty additionally had 29 touchdowns and 6 video games with a minimum of 200 yards.

Jeanty adopted a exceptional school season by means of turning into the primary working again decided on throughout the first six choices of a draft since 2018, when the Giants drafted Saquon Barkley with the second one general select.

“I am very pleased with that,” Jeanty stated. “… I’ll display everyone the placement is effective and it’s nice to take an outstanding working again within the first around.”

This 12 months’s draft elegance is deep at working again, however that did not affect the Raiders’ plans. Spytek and Carroll stated they believed Jeanty used to be the kind of participant who warranted a top-10 select.

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For the Raiders, the addition of Jeanty used to be a mixture of addressing a big want and getting the most efficient participant to be had.

“There may be additionally no be sure that in case you go on Ashton, any of the ones guys that you just in point of fact like within the subsequent around are going to be there,” Spytek stated.

Carroll known as Jeanty a “dynamic participant” who has the power to run with energy and in finding area to make performs.

Jeanty, who used to be a two-year starter for the Broncos, used to be one of the crucial country’s toughest gamers to take on. He had 1,733 yards after touch — 590 greater than another FBS participant in 2024 — and his 4.6 yards after touch according to strive led the FBS amongst RBs with a minimum of 100 rushes.

Rising up, Jeanty admired former working again Marshawn Lynch, who performed seven seasons underneath Carroll in Seattle. Carroll stated each gamers are identical on the subject of discovering techniques to make performs.

“[Jeanty’s] skill to make performs when it does not seem like there is [anything] there, Marshawn did that all the way through his profession,” Carroll stated. “There is a particular make-up in Ashton.”

Jeanty’s pass-catching trait may be very talked-about by means of the group. He stuck 80 passes for 862 yards and 6 touchdowns in 3 seasons at Boise State.

The Raiders were related to Jeanty all the way through the draft procedure. They met with Jeanty on the mix and taken him to their facility for a talk over with, and Spytek attended Boise State’s professional day.

Moreover, Las Vegas is predicted to have a run-heavy offense underneath Carroll and new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Carroll believes the run sport is usually a quarterback’s perfect good friend. Jeanty has the prospective to take some force off Smith.

Jeanty is worked up to be a part of Kelly’s offense and believes the previous Eagles head trainer will use the most efficient of his talents.

“I believe he does an ideal process at getting everyone concerned,” Jeanty stated.

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Jeanty is the 5th working again taken within the first around by means of the Raiders within the commonplace draft technology, becoming a member of Marcus Allen, Napoleon Kaufman, Darren McFadden and Josh Jacobs. He must give the Raiders’ speeding assault a much-needed spice up after it struggled ultimate season. Las Vegas averaged a league-worst 3.6 yards according to rush ultimate season, the primary time in staff historical past it ranked ultimate in that class.

Because of the Raiders’ present loss of intensity at working again, Jeanty has a possibility to be an instantaneous starter. Outdoor of Jeanty, the Raiders’ working backs room is composed of Raheem Mostert, Zamir White, Trustworthy McCormick and Dylan Laube.

“I am all the time searching for particular qualities, distinctive issues that they can do with their imaginative and prescient, frame keep an eye on, toughness and velocity,” Carroll stated. “[Jeanty] isn’t a man that is going to simply run into the wall. He will in finding his means for essentially the most area to be had together with his marvelous creativity.”

In response to the Raiders’ draft board, Spytek stated there can be a large number of excellent gamers to be had once they make their variety in the second one around (thirty seventh general) Friday. He additionally famous the potential of Las Vegas buying and selling all the way down to get extra choices.

“Johnny is solely getting warmed up,” Carroll stated.