The Las Vegas Raiders selected Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty in the 2025 NFL Draft, but was that the right move?
Pete Carroll thought he would be able to take the Las Vegas Raiders to new heights in his first season as head coach. He envisioned a playoff berth in year one of what was supposed to be a three-year contract with a potential fourth year.
Well, Carroll was fired after going 3-14 and the season was a total disaster. And it started before the season at the 2025 National Football League Draft.
With the sixth overall pick, the Raiders selected standout running back Ashton Jeanty out of Boise State. Las Vegas desperately needed to revitalize their rushing attack and Jeanty was the best player available, so the pairing made sense.
However, at the same time, running back was not the only need for this team. The Raiders were weak at almost every position group and should have used that pick more wisely. Las Vegas should have addressed the offensive line before adding a premier running back and this was apparent throughout the season.
Jeanty struggled running the ball because oftentimes he was getting hit at or before the line of scrimmage and would get little to no gain. He had his flashes because the talent is unquestionable, but the Raiders’ rushing attack was inconsistent.
Left tackle Kolton Miller was perceived as one of the best tackles in the NFL prior to his injury but the rest of the unit was lackluster. Las Vegas should have taken the best tackle in the draft and waited to snag a running back.
ESPN’s Ryan McFadden would have drafted right tackle Armand Membou from Missouri in his redraft; Membou was selected by the New York Jets with the seventh pick.
“Jeanty showed he has the potential to be a solid player in this league,” McFadden wrote Tuesday. “But the Raiders' biggest issue in 2025 was the offensive line, and taking Membou would have been beneficial for the unit long term. The running back class was pretty strong in 2025, so going with Membou here and adding a running back later is a win-win situation.”
Membou was quite good in his rookie season with the Jets, all things considered. He was consistent across the board as a pass blocker and run blocker but did struggle with penalties (11) and allowed eight sacks. Still, Membou should have been the pick for Las Vegas.
Membou has shown he has great technique and is quick with his feet, allowing him to recover when he is beaten off the edge. Adding a talent like this to Las Vegas’ o-line should have been an easy choice.
Jeanty is a great player and will be more efficient as the reform that unit, but in hindsight, Membou was the right pick.