Ashton Jeanty is one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft class. His biggest obstacle to going early is that he plays running back.
Within the last decade, the conversation about how to value a running back has divided the NFL community. This season provided a delightful resurgence for the position, as Saquon Barkley exceeded 2,000 yards rushing, Derrick Henry continued to dominate in his first year as a Raven (at 31 years of age, I might add), and various other ball-carriers in the league reminded us of the game-changing importance of a good running back.
At the college level, Ashton Jeanty propelled the very same narrative.
Jeanty, in his 2024 season, broke the record for single-season PFF rushing grade, missed tackles forced, and yards after contact. He had 1,882 rushing yards after contact!
The Patriots might want to seriously consider drafting the best RB of the 2025 class
By every measure, and certainly every statistic, Ashton Jeanty screams top-5 prospect. He came just 27 yards short of Barry Sanders’ long-standing single-season rushing title, and led his Boise State Broncos out of the Mountain West and to their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance. His contact balance is incredible, his patience is reminiscent of Steelers’ Le’Veon Bell, and he simply will not be caught from behind once he finds daylight.
As the Draft lingers, though, public opinion is divided on where Jeanty will land, and how long he may wait to hear his name called. It’s much less a debate over Jeanty’s talents, and more about how to value a running back prospect against other positions.
Five running backs have been selected in the top-10 of the NFL Draft in the last decade. Only one, Bijan Robinson to Atlanta at 8, has gone top-10 in the last six years.
What brings an NFL team to take a running back so high? It’s simple: the player needs to be the solution to their problems on offense.
In 2018, Saquon Barkley was drafted by the Giants at 2, the cure to an otherwise barren offensive system. 2015, Todd Gurley to the Rams at 10, a band-aid to a team with an injured quarterback, injured left tackle, and limited offensive talent. 2012, Trent Richardson to the 4-12 Browns at 3.
In every scenario over the last 15 years in which a team took a running back in the top-10, it was borne of the desire to solve their offensive struggles in one fell swoop. The Patriots have offensive problems; a carte blanche solution wouldn’t hurt.
Ashton Jeanty will, in all likelihood, be selected in the top 10 by a team who sees him as the answer to their offense. As for whether or not the Patriots are in contention? Expectations say no, but it’s not lost on the league how much a good running back can benefit a young quarterback.