In recent years, a growing philosophy has taken hold across the NFL: drafting a running back early is seen as a poor investment. After Saquon Barkley was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in 2018, no team took a player at the position inside the top 10 until the Falcons drafted Bijan Robinson at No. 8 in 2023.
Amid this trend, the Las Vegas Raiders’ situation this year is particularly intriguing. Holding the No. 6 overall pick and plenty of options on the board, a former NFL quarterback who once worked under Pete Carroll has predicted that the top running back in the class will be selected by the franchise.
Matt Hasselbeck Has Ashton Jeanty Selected by the Raiders
During an interview on The Herd, Matt Hasselbeck was asked by Colin Cowherd about the possibility of Pete Carroll’s Raiders selecting standout running back Ashton Jeanty out of Boise State — based on the idea that Carroll takes a more old-school approach with an emphasis on the ground game.
Living legend @Hasselbeck joined the show today to talk to @ColinCowherd about Aaron Rodgers free agency, where Shedeur Sanders and Ashton Jeanty might land in the NFL Draft, and what the Cowboys should do about Micah Parsons pic.twitter.com/AC0wPQkYPu
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) March 31, 2025
“No doubt that Pete Carroll and Chip Kelly want to run the ball, so it’s very easy to get your mind around a Lynch type running game there in Las Vegas. At the same time, we got to figure out what the league feels about the ‘Saquon effect’. Like you said, a lot of people are saying, do we really need to draft a running back that high? And the answer was no.”
Hasselbeck’s point is rooted in how teams have approached recent Drafts. As mentioned, from 2019 to 2022, no running backs were selected within the first 20 picks — with the highest investments being Josh Jacobs in 2019 and Najee Harris in 2021.
However, Cowherd points out that running backs taken inside the top 12 haven’t necessarily been mistakes — and, in fact, have performed well in the NFL during that span. He referenced Saquon Barkley, selected No. 2 overall by the Giants in 2018, Bijan Robinson, picked at No. 6 in 2023; and Jahmyr Gibbs, taken by Detroit at No. 12 that same year.
It’s worth noting that Barkley saw a dip in production before signing with the Eagles, and Atlanta has yet to make the playoffs since betting on Robinson. The most successful case so far has been Gibbs, who joined an already established and competitive offense in Detroit.
Hasselbeck added, “But then, the Saquon effect happened. And now people are looking at guys like Jeanty, and they’re saying, ‘Hey, that could be our Saquon’. So that’s a factor.”
Indeed, the comparison between Barkley and Jeanty is inevitable.
In 2024, Barkley rushed for 2,005 yards and scored 15 total touchdowns during the regular season — a performance that earned him Offensive Player of the Year honors and helped the Philadelphia Eagles secure their second Super Bowl title.
Jeanty, meanwhile, was a phenomenon in college football throughout 2024. He was the most dynamic player of the season and a Heisman Trophy contender, racking up an incredible 2,739 total yards and 30 touchdowns in just 14 games — rushing for at least 100 yards in every single outing.
Currently, the Raiders’ running back room features Raheem Mostert, Sincere McCormick, and Zamir White. Jeanty would instantly become the most talented player in the group and a valuable addition to an offense now led by veteran quarterback Geno Smith.
Hasselbeck noted that the selection of Shedeur Sanders at that spot can’t be ruled out. He suggested it could be a real possibility if Pete Carroll falls in love with Sanders’ competitiveness and embraces the idea of giving him a year to develop behind Geno Smith.