Ashton Jeanty is eagerly awaiting the NFL Draft to discover which team will take a chance on him, but the running back may already have a future with one franchise in mind.
The Boise State standout is confident he’ll be drafted high, telling ProFootballTalk he expects to go sixth overall, potentially joining forces with Tom Brady and the Las Vegas Raiders. Jeanty’s impressive college football performances have caught the attention of several NFL teams, earning him a runner-up spot for the 2024 Heisman Trophy.
The 21-year-old dominated college football, rushing for a career-high 2,601 yards on 374 carries. During his three-year tenure with the Broncos, Jeanty played 40 games, scoring 56 touchdowns – 50 rushing and six receiving.
In a letter to NFL general managers, the young running back declared his intention to “win big” – a message that seems to be resonating with teams, reports the Irish Star. Jeanty will be in attendance in Green Bay for the NFL Draft, with the Boise State star expected to not make it out of the top 10.
And has a vocal supporter in his corner ahead of the NFL Draft; his girlfriend, track star Gabrielle Miller. The sprinting standout from Austin Peay State University, who was a Junior Olympics qualifier and AAU All-American in high school, recently notched a personal best in the 200m race.
Essentially Sports highlighted her victorious 25.69-second sprint, signaling her readiness to match pace with her fleet-footed boyfriend should the chance present itself.
The athlete has steadfastly cheered on her partner, Jeanty, since their Lone Star High School days, celebrating his decision to enter the NFL Draft. On Instagram, she responded to Jeanty’s Draft announcement with enthusiastic support: “Bouta go crazy on the next level!” followed by a white love heart.
Her succinct yet bold declaration underscores the deep-rooted encouragement she extends to Jeanty – reflecting their shared dedication within their sporting careers.
As for Jeanty’s connections beyond collegiate athletics, he’s got potential ties to NFL legend Tom Brady, who holds minority ownership in the Raiders. Buzz surrounding Jeanty ahead of the draft links him to Las Vegas, who possess the enticing sixth overall pick in the first round.
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With the upcoming NFL Draft, all eyes are on where prospect Jeanty will end up. The Raiders are reportedly eyeing a running back to bolster their offense, with Las Vegas GM John Spytek keeping his cards close about Jeanty.
During an April press event, Spytek cryptically spoke of the value of running backs: “I mean we just saw Saquon Barkley just change the Eagles in one year…There’s certain ways to build a team, and I don’t know where we got to a place where we don’t feel like running backs are valued.”
Spytek added: “I come from the University of Michigan, and those guys were certainly really valued there. So, it’s hard for me to get away from that.”
And Jeanty has spoken to the Raiders during the draft process. In a candid conversation with Athlon Sports, Jeanty lauded his interaction with the team and specifically praised head coach Pete Carroll’s approach to the game, stating: “It’s been really good.”
Jeanty added: “It does seem like they’ve got a really good group of coaches. Obviously, Pete Carroll being the head coach. I know his philosophy and how he attacks the game of football. … It’s been a great experience so far meeting with them, but it looks very promising. … A lot of great people in that building for sure.”
