The running back position has had an intriguing arch in the NFL Draft recently. Still, if PFSN’s Anthony Pasciolla is correct, the Broncos will buck recent trends and snag former Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty in the first round.
Since 2016, there have been seven running backs to go in the first round. No running backs went in the first round in 2022 or 2024, as questions have been raised regarding positional value.
Now, someone like Jeanty is rewriting that narrative, especially after the Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl 59, thanks largely to running back Saquon Barkley.
What Anthony Pasciolla Has to Say
Drafting No. 20 overall, the Broncos are projected to take Jeanty per Pasciolla’s mock draft.
“It’s unusual to see the Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty fall this low in mock drafts, but it’s almost impossible to find one where the Denver Broncos pass on him. Bringing a dominant force into the backfield alongside youthful QB Bo Nix is ideal because of the attention he can draw.
Whether Jeanty will be able to produce at an All-Pro level out of the gates remains to be seen, but regardless, his presence can help Nix reach his potential,” Pasciolla writes.
The Broncos averaged 110.4 rushing yards per game (17th) in 2024. However, their leading rusher was Javonte Williams, who had 139 carries for 513 yards (3.7 yards per carry) and four touchdowns.
Examining Ashton Jeanty’s Value
Jeanty was mind-bogglingly good in the 2024 campaign for Boise State.
He ran 374 times for 2,601 yards (seven yards per attempt, and 29 touchdowns. He also caught 23 passes for 138 yards and one touchdown.
While the pass-catching numbers don’t sound great, remember, he had 43 catches for 569 yards and five touchdowns in the passing game in 2023.
He simply wasn’t tasked with catching as many passes in 2024.
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As PFSN’s Brently Weissman mentioned in his scouting report of Jeanty, he’s a “rare playmaker” and then some.
“Jeanty has an innate ability to make himself untouchable for defenders and is one of the most elusive and slippier backs I have ever scouted. He runs with rare instincts for the position, seemingly always two steps ahead of the defender and consistently setting him up to fail.
Jeanty displays good overall hands in the passing game and is a reliable target on screens, wheel, and rail routes. However, he doesn’t have an array of routes in his bag and wouldn’t be a player teams would want to split outside. Jeanty is a willing pass protector, but his lack of strength and length limits his ability to win consistently at the point of attack.
Overall, Jeanty is a rare playmaker who does all the little things well while offering game-breaking home-run ability. While his lack of NFL-caliber size may give some teams pause, I expect Jeanty to hear his name called early on Day 1 of the NFL Draft,” Weissman writes.
If I had to give a pro comparison to Jeanty, he reminds me a lot of New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara.
If you draft Jeanty, you’re getting an immediate game-changer.
If Pasciolla is right, the Broncos offense will be even more successful than it was in 2024 with a second-year quarterback and a top-tier running back.
