Ashton Jeanty is on his way to the NFL. The former Boise State running back and 2024 Heisman Trophy runner-up officially declared for the NFL Draft on Friday where he projects to be the first running back off the board.
He released a statement on social media announcing his decision.
The only question now is where he goes in the draft, and how early he will come off the board.
Jeanty has been the best running back in college football the past two seasons and is coming off a truly dominant 2024 season that saw him challenge Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record.
There should be little debate as to whether or not he is one of the best players in the draft. He is. He is a potential game-changing, big-play back who could provide a lift to any offense. The problem he is going to run into is that he plays the wrong position to be a truly high pick.
Running back has been devalued so much over the past 10-20 years that teams very rarely take them early in the draft except in extreme and special circumstances.
The New York Giants took Saquon Barkley No. 2 overall in 2018, while the Atlanta Falcons took Bijan Robinson No. 8 overall in 2022.
Other than that, it has become increasingly unheard of for running backs to go in the top half of the draft, and especially in the top 10.
It is not that teams do not want good running backs; it is simply the reality that it is really difficult to start building a team around the position. Not only do running backs have one of the shortest careers of any position in the league, but they also have the shortest peaks and are extremely dependent on the team around them.
You need a strong offensive line, a good quarterback and a successful passing game to help open up the running game. Without those other pieces in place, you run the risk of wasting that top pick on a running back.
In a way, that could be good news for Jeanty. The further he falls down the board, the more likely it is he ends up in a good spot and on a good team that could give him the type of supporting cast he needs to make an immediate impact in the NFL.
