The Las Vegas Raiders began a new era at the running back position in 2024 after allowing Josh Jacobs to leave in free agency. With Jacobs gone, the Raiders have deployed Zamir White and Alexander Mattison out of the backfield this season.
Unfortunately for Las Vegas, neither one has panned out. White has been a total disappointment while Mattison has shown some flashes but has been ineffective overall. The offensive line has played a big part in their struggles, also.
With the Raiders likely to be in the market for a running back in 2025, the Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer predicts they will draft Boise State star running back Ashton Jeanty with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Raiders already have teased they might aggressively go after Shedeur Sanders if they can't stay put and get him after the latest QB mess of Gardner Minshew vs. Aidan O'Connell. However, if they remain this low, they can't be ruled out to jump on the class' most explosive, most prolific back to clean up their running game.
The Raiders will certainly be looking for a quarterback first and foremost, no matter where they end up in the first round. In this particular mock, Cam Ward, Jalen Milroe and Shedeur Sanders are all off the board before the Raiders pick.
But that still leaves guys like Quinn Ewers and Carson Beck, so the Raiders have their options here. Both of those players are more likely to land in Las Vegas if they're worthy at No. 11 overall than Jeanty.
And that has nothing to do with the stud running back, who has been incredible over the first five games of this season. It has everything to do with the fact that running back has been devalued in the NFL and teams are rarely going to spend high picks on the position.
Jeanty does have a shot to break the mold, though, and the Raiders have a history of making picks nobody thinks they should. But we would hope general manager Tom Telesco doesn't continue that trend by taking a running back this early when Las Vegas has much bigger needs to address.
