Patriots HC Mike Vrabel isn't ruling out Heisman Trophy runner-up in first round of 2025 NFL Draft

FOXBOROUGH, Mass - When it comes to running backs, Mike Vrabel got to work with one of the best in the business during his time with the Tennessee Titans. And he saw just how impactful a player of that caliber can be. 

There is another top running back prospect in the draft that has many teams intrigued. 

That's none other than Boise State's Ashton Jeanty. 

However, with the fourth overall pick, could New England take such a big risk and potentially draft him?

That's something Mike Vrabel was asked on Tuesday during a pre-draft press conference. Specifically, the question was phrased, asking if Vrabel has an opinion on whether a running back is worth a top-10 pick in the draft. 

"No, I don't. I think that that's individualized based on how good the player is, how talented and what impact that he's going to make, his ability to play on all three downs, his ability to catch the football, his ability to create mismatches and obviously, then what the team covets," he responded. "I think that's the most important."

So, he isn't ruling out this possibility. 

Yes, the Patriots have other needs, but to get a playmaker that has this kind of potential is an opportunity Vrabel might not want to miss out on. 

A to Z Sports' Best Player Comp For Ashton Jeanty

In a piece by Ryan Roberts at the beginning of the month, he compared to Jeanty to, "if Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram did the Fusion Dance."

"Jeanty is such a difficult player to find a comparison for considering he just doesn’t have a ton of weaknesses. As a runner, there are some parallels to Ingram. He runs with tremendous contact balance, physicality, and low center of gravity. As a pass game weapon, Jeanty is a lot closer to Kamara than Ingram. Jeanty is an all around weapon who does most things very well," Roberts wrote.