Raiders GM John Spytek reveals why he couldn’t pass on Ashton Jeanty in top 10

Las Vegas Raiders GM John Spytek explained why the team drafted Ashton Jeanty, one of the top prospects in this year's NFL draft, in the top 10.

The running back had a successful three-season stint at the collegiate level with the Boise State Broncos. During the 2024 season, Jeanty helped them to a Mountain West title and quarterfinals of the 12-team playoffs.

Ashton Jeanty, the 2024 Unanimous All-American, went to the Raiders with the sixth overall pick. On Thursday, Raiders GM John Spytek, on the 3&Out podcast with John Middlekauff, explained the team's thought process in drafting Jeanty with the first-round pick and the value they put on good running backs.

"We've got to find an elite player and we've got to find an elite person," Spytek said. "And I think that kind of goes with any round. but you know there's a heightened energy to it when it's in the top 10. I mean, in my opinion, you better be greedy about the kind of player you're looking at"

"And so we found that in Ashton, in our ponion. You know, some people maybe don't value the running back to a certain degree, I don't know. I didn't...... And more importantly to me, he's a great kid. He was revered in that Boise State program because he trated people the right way and was a great running back." (25:40)

Ashton Jeanty became the first running back to be drafted by the Raiders in the first round since 2019. The last time they did so was when they acquired Josh Jacobs.

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John Spytek reveals Bucky Irving's influence in the Raiders drafting Ashton Jeanty in Round 1

In May, the Raiders GM, in an interview with Ari Meirov, talked about how Bucky Irving influenced them in spending their sixth overall pick on getting Jeanty this year. The Buccaneers had drafted Irving in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft.

"I always think of RBs like Bucky Irving last year - the first man can't tackle me," Spytek said. "Bucky proved that. And Ashton has great feel, great vision, and he's a nightmare to tackle in the open field for LBs and DBs. And when you come up 31 yards short of Barry Sanders? You've got my attention."

Ashton Jeanty is in the middle of OTAs with the Raiders. Reports also say that the running back is practicing catches with the team, indicating the Raiders' potential interest in utilizing him in their pass-catch game.