Mock drafts see Raiders take swing on elite offensive talent early

The Las Vegas Raiders are one of the more unpredictable teams heading into the 2025 NFL Draft.

While the Raiders’ biggest need is at quarterback, they are currently sitting out of the range of the elite talents available this year. Sitting at sixth overall, the team may be out of the running for Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. With the other prospects being reaches at that spot, the Raiders will have to resort to alternate gameplans.

New head coach and general manager Pete Carroll and John Spytek, respectively, will have to decide how they want their team to operate. Input from Raiders minority owner Tom Brady will also play a role in shaping the roster for next season. A trade up in the order is certainly on the table, but staying at six might be the best course of action with many spots currently undecided going into 2025.

Analysts have recently landed on a high-profile target: Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.

What the analysts have to say

“There are plenty of 2025 NFL Draft rumors suggesting the Las Vegas Raiders could trade-up for a quarterback. However, given the level of job security that first-year general manager John Spytek has, that feels unnecessary,” wrote Matt Johnson of Sportsnaut.

“Instead, much like this team did last year, it takes the best playmaker available. Ashton Jeanty is a true floor-raiser for an offense and he can be a central piece for Las Vegas just as Brock Bowers was last season. This doesn’t address the Raiders’ absence of a franchise quarterback, but it does give them two potential elite talents that will create an outstanding environment for the eventual franchise QB to work with.”

Johnson is not the only analyst who has the Raiders taking Jeanty at sixth overall, as Pro Football Network’s Ian Cummings made the same selection in his mock draft.

“That’s right. Running backs matter again,” wrote Cummings. “And a running back like Ashton Jeanty can be an offense’s most valuable player. Jeanty is a special RB talent, with a near-generational evasion fusion that combines elusiveness, contact balance, vision, and relentlessness.”

Are the Raiders really going to go with Jeanty at 6?

Regardless of position, Jeanty is one of the elite talents available in this draft class.

He was unstoppable with the Boise State Broncos in 2024, posting 2,601 rushing yards and 30 total touchdowns. Despite only standing at 5-foot-9, Jeanty has the scouting report of a three-down offensive dynamo from the backfield.

What keeps Jeanty from being drafted so high is the position he plays. While the likes of Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is bringing the position back to its former glory, there is still a long way to go for running backs to reach their former value. With how much depth is also at the position this year, the Raiders could elect to target another position first before circling back to find a capable starting running back in the later rounds.

Still, the idea of pairing Jeanty with All-Pro tight end Bowers is tempting in its own right. It would hypothetically give the Raiders two elite young talents to center their rebuild around, giving their franchise quarterback some weapons to develop with.

Jeanty might not stand out as a favorite at sixth overall, but there is no denying he would solve a key need for the Raiders.