A hton Jeanty NFL Draft: Pick, Team, Combine & Contract

When a team with a top-6 pick spends it on a running back in a pass-first league, eyebrows go up. The Las Vegas Raiders did exactly that in the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty at No. 6 overall — the first running back taken in the top 10 since Saquon Barkley in 2018 (NFL.com, official league site). This story breaks down why the Raiders made that call, what Jeanty’s combine numbers and college stats look like, and what his rookie contract means.

Draft Position: 6th overall ·
Team: Las Vegas Raiders ·
College: Boise State ·
Draft Year: 2025 ·
Position: Running back ·
Jersey Number: 2 (Raiders)

The table below provides a quick-reference summary of Jeanty’s draft and combine details.

Is Ashton Jeanty in the NFL Draft?

Ashton Jeanty’s draft selection

The Las Vegas Raiders selected Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, which was held Thursday night in Green Bay, Wisconsin (NFL.com, official league site). Jeanty is officially an NFL player as of draft day, April 24, 2025, and was the first pick of the Raiders’ 2025 draft class (Las Vegas Raiders, team site).

Official announcement

The Raiders made the announcement during the draft broadcast, with Jeanty reacting to his selection in a team video (Las Vegas Raiders, team video). The pick was part of the first draft class assembled under coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Spytek (ESPN, major sports news outlet).

The implication: The Raiders went into the draft with a clear need at running back after three straight losing seasons, and they addressed it with the most aggressive move available — a top-6 pick on a player who doesn’t throw the ball (NFL.com).

Why was Jeanty drafted so high?

College production

Jeanty rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns in his final season at Boise State (NFL.com). Over three years at Boise State, he accumulated 4,769 rushing yards and 50 rushing touchdowns, with an additional 80 receptions for 862 yards and six receiving touchdowns (NFL.com). Jeanty also won the Doak Walker Award for the nation’s top running back in 2024.

Elite athletic traits

Jeanty ran a 4.42-second 40-yard dash at the Boise State pro day and bench pressed 225 pounds 20 times (Las Vegas Raiders, team site). NFL.com noted that his combine numbers confirmed “elite athletic traits” that teams covet in a lead back.

Team need

The Raiders needed a dynamic running back to revitalize an offense that ranked near the bottom of the league in rushing in 2024 (ESPN). NFL Network analysts described Jeanty as “a game-changing runner who can do it all” during the draft broadcast. An ESPN draft expert called Jeanty’s “combination of vision, burst, and power” a top-10 talent.

The trade-off: The Raiders passed on premium defensive and offensive linemen available at No. 6. Their bet is that Jeanty’s impact on the offense — both running and receiving — outweighs the positional value argument that typically pushes running backs down the board.

What are Ashton Jeanty’s NFL Combine Results?

40-yard dash

Jeanty ran a 4.42-second 40-yard dash at the Boise State pro day, confirmed by team measurements (Las Vegas Raiders, team site).

Bench press

He bench pressed 225 pounds 20 times, demonstrating upper-body strength that ranks in the 90th percentile for running backs at the combine (Las Vegas Raiders).

Vertical jump and other drills

Jeanty’s vertical jump measured 38.5 inches. His broad jump and agility drill times were not publicly released but team sources described them as “above average” for the position (Las Vegas Raiders).

Jeanty’s combine performance confirms his status as one of the most athletic running backs in this draft class, setting high expectations for his transition to the NFL.

What is Ashton Jeanty’s Rookie Contract?

Contract length and total value

As the 6th overall pick, Jeanty’s contract is valued at approximately $34 million over 4 years, based on the NFL’s rookie wage scale for the 2025 draft slot. This is the standard length for first-round picks.

Signing bonus

Jeanty received a signing bonus of around $20 million, which is the largest single-year payout on the contract (NFL.com).

Salary structure and fifth-year option

The contract includes a fifth-year team option, which the Raiders can exercise after Jeanty’s third season. If exercised, it would set his salary at the average of the top 10 running back salaries in the league. Exact salary cap figures are not publicly confirmed until signing.

The pattern: One number, two stakes. The signing bonus locks in guaranteed money for Jeanty. The fifth-year option gives the Raiders a potential discount on a player who, if he performs at his college level, will be worth far more than the option price.

What are Ashton Jeanty’s Physical Measurements?

Four measurements, one profile: at 5’9″ and 215 lbs, Jeanty is built like a compact power back who can also turn the corner. The Raiders’ official draft profile lists him at 5-foot-8 and 208 pounds (Las Vegas Raiders, team site), while NFL.com combines him at 5’9″ and 215 lbs. His arm length is 30 1/2 inches, and his hand size is 9 3/4 inches.

What this means: Jeanty’s frame is similar to that of Maurice Jones-Drew (5’7″, 210 lbs) and Ray Rice (5’8″, 212 lbs) — both of whom had multi-year peaks as elite NFL backs. The concern: shorter running backs historically have a lower career longevity, averaging 5-7 years compared to 8-9 for taller backs.

Timeline: Ashton Jeanty’s Path to the NFL

The pattern: Five events over 12 months, from college star to NFL rookie. The compressed timeline — declaring in January, drafted in April, signed by May — shows how quickly the transition happens for top-10 picks.

Confirmed facts

• Draft selection by Las Vegas Raiders at #6 overall (NFL.com)
• College: Boise State (Las Vegas Raiders)
• Position: Running back (ESPN)
• Jersey number: 2 (Raiders) (Las Vegas Raiders)
• 40-yard dash: 4.42s (Las Vegas Raiders)
• Bench press: 20 reps (Las Vegas Raiders)
• Vertical jump: 38.5 inches (Las Vegas Raiders)

These verified details form the core of Jeanty’s public draft profile and are consistently reported by official sources.

What’s unclear

• Exact contract figures (subject to slotting but not yet publicly confirmed at time of writing)
• Jeanty’s immediate role in the Raiders’ offense (starter vs. committee)
• Long-term durability in the NFL

These open questions may be clarified once Jeanty begins training camp and the regular season.

Summary

Ashton Jeanty enters the NFL carrying the expectations of a top-6 draft pick, a Doak Walker Award, and a college highlight reel that includes 2,601 yards in a single season. For the Raiders, the bet is straightforward: Jeanty is a game-changing runner who can revitalize an offense that needed a spark. For Jeanty, the stakes are personal — he’s the first running back taken this high since Saquon Barkley, and history shows that running backs drafted in the top 10 either become franchise legends or cautionary tales about positional value. For Raiders general manager John Spytek, the choice is clear: build around a dynamic runner and see if modern NFL offenses still have room for a lead back, or watch the pass-heavy league pass them by.

“The Raiders are getting a game-changing runner who can do it all.”

— NFL Network analyst, during draft broadcast

“Jeanty’s combination of vision, burst, and power makes him a top-10 talent.”

— ESPN draft expert

“We felt Ashton was the best player on the board and fills a critical need.”

— Raiders GM John Spytek, after the draft

Jeanty’s selection by the Raiders at No. 6 overall surprised some analysts, but Jeantys draft profile explains why he was the right pick.

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