NFL

Why Drafting Ashton Jeanty Would Be A Mistake For The Raiders

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Anthony Cardenas
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Anthony Cardenas Sports Editor

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Published20 Apr 2025

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NFL Draft, and many have him mocked to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Would Picking Ashton Jeanty Be A Mistake For The Raiders?

But would it be a mistake for Pete Carroll and company (or for any team) to select a running back in the top-10?

Despite something of a resurgence in 2024, the running back position in the NFL has been on the decline in recent years. Teams have held backs in a lower regard when it came to overall value, with the belief being that any player could run behind a good offensive line in the proper system. Running-back-by-committee has become the norm, and players at the position have seen a sharp decline in contract size relative to their counterparts.

Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry did their best to change that notion last season, as they became massive contributors to their respective teams’ success. But the stigma still remains. The largest contract give out to a running back in of yearly value was the 1-year deal that the Chargers handed to Najee Harris, valued at $5.25 million.

Teams Can Save More Money At Other Positions

So? Running backs are cheaper. Isn’t that a good thing?

You’d think so. But a quick run of the number suggests that an impact player at other positions have more contractual value than backfield players.

The top-10 running backs in the NFL have an average contract value of $12.5 million per year. If the Raiders made Jeanty the 6th overall selection, he would be handed a contract worth $7.75 million annually, per the league’s rookie wage scale. That means for the first four years of his career, he would represent a savings of less than $5 million per season.

Conversely, the average annual salary for a top-10 NFL edge rusher is $27.5 million. A 6th overall pick at that position would be a savings of roughly $20 million each year for four years.

There is also the issue of offensive lines. The Raiders were middle of the pack at best when it came to run blocking in 2024, and the other teams that might pick Jeanty in the top-10 weren’t much better. All three of the Raiders, Saints, and Bears ranked low in their yards before numbers, which wouldn’t bode well for a rookie back.

The only running back to be picked in the top-10 in the last seven years was Bijan Robinson in 2023.