The Las Vegas Raiders made a splash on the trade market by acquiring former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith in exchange for a third-round pick. This move signals that new head coach Pete Carroll does not plan on tanking in his first season with the Raiders.
Despite adding Smith under center, Las Vegas still lacks offensive firepower, particularly at running back and wide receiver.
While the Raiders could still draft Smith’s eventual successor with the No. 6 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, they may instead target a top-tier running back to pair with the 34-year-old quarterback.
Raiders Predicted to Select Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty at NFL Draft
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is widely regarded as one of the best in this year’s draft class, but being selected just outside the top five would still be a surprise.
CBS Sports predicts the Raiders to pick Jeanty at No. 6, pairing him with their new quarterback, Smith.
“New Raiders head coach Pete Carroll is recreating the Seattle Seahawks in Las Vegas. Geno Smith is his quarterback once again after the Raiders sent a 2025 third-round pick the Seahawks’ way,” CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell wrote.
“Now, he drafts his new Marshawn Lynch in Jeanty, a true bell cow fresh off rushing for the second-most yards in D1 history (2,601, just 28 yards behind Barry Sanders’ all-time record).”
Jeanty, the 2024 Heisman Trophy runner-up, finished the season with 374 carries for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns. That level of production could revitalize the Raiders’ offense, which ranked No. 29 in PFSN’s Offense+ metric.
Jeanty Predicted to Slide in NFL Draft
As mentioned, Las Vegas drafting Jeanty this early would be unexpected, so PFSN projects him to be selected a few picks later.
David Bearman predicts the Dallas Cowboys to draft the 5’9″ running back at No. 12 overall.
“Jeanty to Dallas has been discussed since October, so this move comes as no surprise. The Cowboys committed offseason malpractice in 2024 by not finding a suitable running back,” Bearman wrote.
“With the resurgence of the position last season, thanks to Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, and Josh Jacobs, Jerry Jones isn’t going to miss out on one of the best prospects to come out in years.”
“Many have also placed North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton here, but 2,600 yards and 29 touchdowns are hard to pass up. The Cowboys need many things in 2025, but they won’t be accused of neglecting the running back position,” Bearman concluded.