Ashton Jeanty receives praise from former All-Pro

Ashton Jeanty comes in to his rookie season with the Las Vegas Raiders with lofty expectations on his shoulders.

The sixth overall pick in April’s draft, Jeanty is tasked with fixing what was the worst rushing attack in the league last season. Head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly have thrived with strong running games, so fixing that was certainly a top priority for the Raiders this season. Selecting Jeanty so high proved that point perfectly.

In the midst of his first NFL training camp, Jeanty has continued to receive praise, and a former All-Pro running back is the latest to offer his support.

The hype train continues to roll for Jeanty as the season approaches.

Visiting Raiders training camp on Sunday, NFL Network analyst and legendary Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew significantly praised what Jeanty brings to the table.

“Ashton Jeanty is the best prospect I’ve scouted since I’ve been scouting,” Jones-Drew told Raiders beat writer Levi Edwards. “I’ve scouted Saquon Barkley and other guys. A lot of it is his skill set but also what he did and where he was. And that translates over. There is similarities in our game, I think he’s a much better receiver than I was when I first got into the NFL. … His vision, his contact balance, his ability to catch, his blocking – he is the full package.”

Coming off one of the most dominant rushing seasons in college football history, Jeanty has the potential to emerge as the next great running back in the NFL.

The only question will be how well does his skill set translate immediately. Jeanty will receive the majority of the carries in the backfield, so he will not be lacking in opportunity to prove himself. If he can produce right away, the Raiders offense will benefit from the ability to become more balanced than last season.

Jeanty has turned the heads of many across the NFL, and Jones-Drew is just the latest former player to sing his praises.