In the high-stakes world of NFL talent evaluation, a rare gem has emerged from the blue turf of Boise State. Ashton Jeanty, the explosive running back lighting up college football, has scouts scrambling to find superlatives that capture his game-breaking ability. As the 2025 NFL Draft approaches, Jeanty’s meteoric rise up draft boards has placed him firmly in the conversation as a potential top-10 pick.
Putting Jeanty’s Dominance in Perspective
To truly appreciate Jeanty’s special talent, one must examine how he stacks up against the cream of the running back crop. Over the past decade, 14 RBs have heard their names called in the first round of the NFL Draft. From Todd Gurley to Bijan Robinson, these elusive playmakers set the standard for what teams covet in a franchise back.
In this rarefied air, Jeanty shines as bright as any. Consider the numbers:
- 2,497 rushing yards in 2024 (2nd most in FBS history)
- 29 rushing TDs (tied 3rd all-time)
- 7.3 yards per carry (top 10 all-time for 300+ carries)
- 20 receptions for 116 yards and 1 TD
The kid is special, man. He’s got the juice. The way he hits the hole and gets to top speed, it’s rare. And you see the power when he lowers his shoulder. He’s the complete package.
Anonymous NFL Scout
Drawing Favorable Comparisons
When stacked up against recent first-round picks, Jeanty compares favorably to the elites. His combination of explosive acceleration, powerful strides, receiving ability, and competitive toughness place him in the same tier as Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey coming out of college.
Like Barkley, Jeanty possesses sprinter speed to take any touch the distance. His 4.3 jets were on full display with an FBS-leading 11 runs of 50+ yards in 2024. But Jeanty isn’t just a home run hitter. He embraces contact and fights through arm tackles with a low center of gravity and tree-trunk quads.
What separates Jeanty from even Barkley and McCaffrey is his advanced receiving repertoire. Jeanty is a natural hands-catcher who runs polished routes. He can line up all over the formation and is a matchup nightmare in space. While not quite the pass-catching savant McCaffrey was at Stanford, Jeanty offers more juice as a pure runner.
Landing Spot Speculation Heats Up
As the draft draws closer, the rumor mill is swirling with potential destinations for Jeanty. The Dallas Cowboys are a trendy pick, given Jerry Jones’ affinity for first-round backs and the team’s glaring need for a difference-maker in the run game. Even with Rico Dowdle’s second-half emergence, the ‘Boys rank bottom-10 in most rushing metrics.
Other destinations being floated:
- Cleveland Browns – questions abound with Nick Chubb’s broken foot and free agency
- New Orleans Saints – need explosive playmaker to pair with Kamara
- Chicago Bears – imagine Jeanty catching passes from Caleb Williams
- Minnesota Vikings & Pittsburgh Steelers – both have RB1 free agents in Aaron Jones and Najee Harris
The Verdict on Jeanty
When the dust settles, it would be a shock if Ashton Jeanty isn’t one of the first 15 names called on draft night. His electrifying, versatile skill set is tailor-made for the modern NFL. Any team would be lucky to add his home run ability to their backfield.
While running backs sliding in Round 1 has become a trend, special talents like Jeanty tend to buck conventional wisdom. He has a chance to outshine even the lofty pro careers of recent top-10 backs like Barkley, Elliott, and McCaffrey. The future is blindingly bright for the Boise State phenom.
