Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is skyrocketing up draft boards, and a new NFL mock draft from Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com has him making a huge leap into the top 10.
Jeremiah’s latest projection has the Las Vegas Raiders selecting Jeanty with the No. 6 overall pick, a major jump from his previous mock draft, where Jeanty was slotted at No. 21 to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Raiders, who are looking to add firepower to their offense, would be making a bold move by taking the Boise State star so early.
"The Raiders can take some pressure off of Geno Smith by adding Jeanty, who is one of the top three players in the draft," Jeremiah wrote in his analysis.
Jeanty is coming off one of the greatest seasons in college football history. He finished second in Heisman Trophy voting after rushing for an eye-popping 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns. The 5-foot-9, 210-pound back showcased elite vision, power, and explosiveness, proving to be a nightmare for opposing defenses all season long.
Las Vegas traded for veteran quarterback Geno Smith this offseason, and pairing him with a dominant runner could help ease the transition under Pete Carroll.
Smith thrived in a balanced offense with the Seahawks, and Jeanty’s ability to control the game on the ground could take some of the pressure off the signal-caller.
While running backs have been devalued in recent drafts, Jeanty’s rise suggests he could be an exception.
Jeanty’s draft stock continues to rise, and if Jeremiah’s prediction holds, he could be headed to the desert as the newest weapon for Las Vegas.
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