During the pre-draft process, the Raiders have consistently been linked to Ashton Jeanty. The consensus top running back in the 2025 class is understandably seen by many as a strong candidate for the sixth overall pick, but other teams are worth watching on this front as well. 
The Jaguars can be listed as a “sleeper team” regarding Jeanty, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (video link). Jacksonville is set to select fifth overall, and the team has often been connected to Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham. Taking that route is seen by many as the likeliest outcome, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated writes. He adds, however, that selecting a skill-position player at No. 5 could be in play.
In that case, Jeanty would receive consideration. The Heisman runner-up enjoyed a hugely productive three-year career at Boise State, cementing his status as the most highly-regarded prospect in a deep running back class. Jeanty is widely viewed as a top-10 talent (at least), but the matter of taking a running back so high in the draft remains a topic of debate. An All-American in 2024 (just like Jeanty), Graham is seen as one of the safest prospects in the draft and could contribute right away along Jacksonville’s D-line.
If the Jaguars – now led by first-time general manager James Gladstone and rookie head coach Liam Coen – elect to avoid Graham and Jeanty with their top pick, a move down the board could be in order. Fowler’s colleague Adam Schefter lists Jacksonville as one of the teams interested in a trading back, something which will be difficult given the lack of blue chip prospects at the top of the order. If such a deal were to be made, though, the Raiders would remain in position to add Jeanty.
Such a scenario would come as no surprise, but Schefter notes a sense exists around the league that the Bears are “praying” Jeanty falls to them at No. 10. Chicago has done plenty of work at the running back spot during the pre-draft process, and the team is known to be high on the Maxwell Award winner. D’Andre Swift has one more year of guarantees on his deal, but adding Jeanty to the mix would give the Bears a two-pronged rushing attack not unlike the one new head coach Ben Johnson had with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery during his time as the Lions’ offensive coordinator.
In the event the Jags stand pat at No. 5 and draft Jeanty, Breer adds former first-rounder Travis Etienne could become a trade candidate. It would come as a surprise to many for that circumstance to emerge, but it is a possibility to watch for as the first round approaches.
“Known to be interested”?? Maybe if he falls to 10. But this is a deep RB class and with 2 second round picks they could address RB there. Left tackle has a big drop off after the first round and I’m betting Poles goes there with #10.
Agreed, though could see them going a lot of directions there. I feel like the most common connection is Mason Graham, which makes a ton of sense.
I don’t think Poles will reach. He probly has one/ two Tackles, RBs, D-ends.. on his blue chip list. I’ll bet Graham is on there.
Sorry, my mistake. I was thinking of the Jaguars, but otherwise agreed. If Graham were somehow available at ten, that would be amazing for your guys.
I want Barron to pair with Johnson then I hope jihaad Campbell falls to the 2nd and we take him. Our 3rd pick I want RB.
Fournette literally helped Jacksonville to reach the AFC Championship as a rookie and was a huge part of Tampa Bay winning their Superbowl, and Etienne bounced back from an injured rookie campaign to post a dominant and versatile 1,000 yard season.
Those were anything but bad picks.
Fournette played 36 games for them before they released him. That’s a horrendous return on a fourth overall pick. And more than half a dozen running backs from that draft, as far down as pick 182 (Aaron Jones) had better careers.
Etienne missed the whole first season of his rookie deal, had two good seasons, and then became the lesser part of a platoon in his fourth year. He’s not a huge disappointment, but he’s not a huge hit either.
Stacked RB class. If I’m jags I’m not taking rb day 1
I doubt the actual elite RBs will be available after the first round.
Maybe Henderson or Kaleb Johnson. Maybe.
Yes this draft is deep but the true feature backs are in the first and very high second rounds.
Dude no. There are tons of potential star backs here. They’re being overlooked. It happens every year lmao
In most deep RB drafts you would be right but the reality is we always know who the top backs are in every draft. They only fall either due to injury concerns or being overlooked but you can watch them and know they’re the real deal.
This draft is deep at the top because so little separates the top backs from each other. After that though, the backs become bigger question marks in a hurry.
In actual deep drafts, guys like Hampton and Judkins go in the second or even third, Henderson and Johnson in the third or fourth, etc.
This draft though overall is not as deep. It seems deep because there are a lot of guys who COULD be good at this or that position but after the first few picks at each position are basically all crapshoots. Because of this lack of overall depth (especially in the first round), the stud RBs who would have gone in the mid rounds will likely go second day or even first round.
The mid round guys this year will be the question mark guys. Yes any number of them COULD be stars but many are either small, slower than you’d like, have flaws or played in a weak conference or never actually handled a full workload.
There’s lots of guys who are 5’8″ and 5’9″, and guys under 5’10” but especially 5″8″ or shorter really struggle in the NFL as feature backs with few exceptions.
There’s lots of guys who are around or under 200 lbs, from 190s to under 210. Guys at that weight also tend to struggle to hold up in the NFL or to run as hard as they did in college. The exception to these rules tend to run behind fullbacks.
You’d ideally like your feature back to be at least 5’11” but possibly 5’10”, at least 210-215 lbs, and run at least a 5.55 or quicker 40. You’d also like them to have faced very good competition in college and to have handled a full workload for more than a season so you know they’re the real deal. You’d also like them to have shown receiving ability but that’s not a requirement.
This draft is full of guys who ran very fast 40 times so that makes them intriguing despite their size. It’s also full of guys who are bigger at 215-225 but who either didn’t ever have a full workload or don’t run as fast as you’d like. Or they’re 5’9″ and under, which a lot of the backs are as I’ve already mentioned.
Allgier was a fifth rounder and rushed for 1,000 yards rookie year behind bottom 10 O Line. My point is a lot of these backs can be feature backs behind a RB1 like Barkley or Hubbard. That’s all I’m saying. Of course there’s only a handful of top backs who are easily RB1 before camp even ends. If you get my point
Only 2 backs will be taken in the first Rd my guy
I never said they wouldn’t. I’m saying this class has a lot of capable feature backs.
Not hard to find decent RBs any round. It is hard to find RBs who can run, block and catch passes. There is a HUGE difference, hence only a few RBs going 1st round.
I love when people make absolute statements like this based on nothing.
Who me?
I know it’s a different front office and coaching staff, but you would hope the organization that used first round picks on Fournette and Etienne would learn a lesson by now.
Smokescreen
Come on up to #4 if you want Jeanty .. pats will take those extra picks
Nobody trading up that high. At best Dallas or Denver go to 8 to get ahead of the bears
So I HC Coen and their GM are not pinning their offensive year on Jeanty…then maybe a trade back with the Bears at 10 nets them additional picks that first years GM and HC can use to improve the overall team…..
Bears won’t move up in the first. Poles likes those picks too much. Hence why we have 2 2nd Rd picks this year. Now a 4th Rd pick we will give away for a guy like Claypool no problem lol
Feel like this has got to be a smokescreen with the Jags hoping someone trades up for Jeanty. Imo as a Jags fan I’m hoping for one of Carter, Hunter, or Graham at 5. If all 3 are off the board for some reason, there should be someone looking to trade up…whether it be for Jeanty or a QB or even one of Membou/Campbell. With the current state of the roster, there’s no reason to take Jeanty at 5 in a deep RB class.
That’s what I thought months ago but I disagree. Many say Graham wouldn’t be a top 10 selection last year and he plays 3 technique and we need a run stuffing nose tackle more like Kenneth grant supposedly. I know Armstead is old and Hamilton didn’t rebound post injury like some thought, but I don’t want Graham when there is plenty of good late 1st and 2nd round o and d lineman.
Now for jeanty. Most people think it doesn’t make sense and it’s a smokescreen and at first I did too. But if you think about it, it makes a TON of sense for the jags to draft jeanty. First, Etienne is on the last year of his contract and while in his mid 20s, many rbs don’t get paid a 2nd contract unless elite. I like Etienne but are we really gonna resign him after this year for 10+ million esp when can go younger and cheaper? Secondly, I know rbs don’t get great trade value but he has a ZERO dollar dead cap hit if traded according to overthecap. Let’s say he gets a late 3rd or early 4th we could use that to move up with our other 2 thirds to get some very good 2nd and 3rd round guys. Additionally, some fans are still bent out of shape about Etiennes injuries and his costly fumble last year. And it’s a new regime. Next, tank bigsby. We all like him for name and he produced solidly last year as a backup. But is he the future lead back? Not so sure. Now let’s think about our new HC. Bucs didn’t seem to need bucky Irving but look what happened there in a 2 rb set where Irving overtook white. I think Coen would enjoy 2 rb again. Another reason is let’s look at their FA moves and comments. They said when they break the huddle they want the other team to be intimidated and know they are going to run it down their throat. The lineman they signed are meant to setup the run and are a bit better at that than pass pro. To further reinforce this, new EVP and HOF former left tackle has shared in the new Jags EVPpodcast and other places how his favorite thing about his playing career was running the ball when the other team needed to get a stop and they couldn’t. And he has voiced his displeasure with the jags last few coaching staffs being unable to pickup 2nd or 3rd and short. On top of ALL those reasons, I looked it up on espn and jeanty is FROM Jacksonville and we could bring him home. You’re telling me all that doesn’t make sense?!?!
Sounds like the Raiders would need to come up to 4 to get their guy. As a Pats fan, I’d welcome that.
I honestly don’t think raiders take a RB. They are so many pieces away from needing a RB.
It never ceases to amaze me how many people who are so dismissive of running back most years seem to be pushing for teams to draft Jeanty in the top ten just because he beat up on a weak conference.
It’s only owners and ESPN because they want to pay QBs 60 million a year. The real fans know that defense and a good run game win championships.
Uh, as a lifelong Bears fan I can testify that your statement is bs. The Bears have the most HOFers of any NFL franchise(mostly defensive players and RBs), but only on SB ring.
The draft can’t come soon enough.
Don’t think the bears are dumb enough to let the whole league know they want jeanty. My guess is they want Graham to fall to them.