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Ashton Jeanty Signs Rookie Deal, Becomes Top-6 Highest-Paid NFL RB

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated May 8, 2025 7:45 PM ET

It feels like a sad state of affairs when a rookie contract instantly makes you one of the highest paid players at your position without playing a down. But Ashton Jeanty won't be complaining.

After going No. 6 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2025 NFL Draft, he signed his rookie deal today. According to NFL insider Cameron Wolfe, it's a four-year, $35,895,812 deal with a $22,746,044 signing bonus.

But according to OverTheCap, the contract is already the sixth-highest for any running back in the NFL. Only Josh Jacobs ($48m), Jonathan Taylor ($42m), Saquon Barkley ($41.2m), Chrtistian McCaffrey ($38m) and Rhamondre Stevenson ($36m) have larger contracts right now.

Better yet: His rookie deal is fully guaranteed, meaning he's going to get every penny of that deal (something that not even McCaffrey, Taylor or Jacobs can say).

Ashton Jeanty, #Raiders No.6 overall pick, has signed his fully guaranteed four-year, $35,895,812 rookie deal with $22,746,044 signing bonus. Deal negotiated by @HenryOrgann & @Agent_Big_Al of @DisruptiveSports pic.twitter.com/qtZ2Z9ZDB5
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) May 8, 2025

But it's money well-earned for what he did at Boise State in 2024, and throughout his college career.

As a junior with the Broncos in 2024, Jeanty came within a few dozen yards of breaking the great Barry Sanders' single-season rushing record. He finished the year with 374 carries for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns. Jeanty fell short of winning the Heisman Trophy, losing to Colorado's Travis Hunter.

But Jeanty got to go out after leading Boise State on their first-ever College Football Playoff run. After going 11-1 in the regular season and winning the Mountain West Championship Game, he led them against Penn State in the biggest game in Boise State history.

Sadly, the Broncos just couldn't overcome Penn State's superior crop of talent and they wound up losing the game 31-14 with Jeanty falling 28 yards short of breaking Barry's record.

But in the ensuing NFL Draft process, Jeanty emerged as the clear top running back and was considered the top offensive skill player by many analysts.

So when the Raiders got their chance to get him, they jumped at the chance.

Now Jeanty will get a chance to really show what he's capable of on the biggest stage in sports.

And he'll be paid handsomely for his trouble too.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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