The NFL Draft is still a ways away, but scouting departments across the league are focusing on players like Ashton Jeanty. Following a dominant sophomore season where he led the Mountain West Conference in rushing yards, the Jacksonville native has taken his game to another level in 2024. Through just eight games, the running back has recorded 190 carries for 1,525 yards (8.0 yards per carry) and a staggering 20 touchdowns. He easily has the most impressive numbers of any back in the 2024 NFL Draft class, and his film shows why he’s so dangerous.
As a runner, it’s hard to find anything bad about Jeanty’s game. Blessed with elite vision, speed, and strength, the Boise State product can blow past defenders and bulldoze them, depending on the situation. While he still has room to improve in pass protection, he’s easily one of the most talented players in the NFL Draft. The running back position is a little devalued, but a team like the Kansas City Chiefs or Los Angeles Chargers could use a first-round pick to secure his services.
Chiefs, Chargers Could Fight to Draft Ashton Jeanty
The Kansas City Chiefs have one of the most talented rosters in football and can afford to select the best player available. While they could use another wide receiver or cornerback, it will be difficult for the team to draft someone other than Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty. Isiah Pacheco missed most of the season, and his absence proved just how thin this backfield is. With undrafted free agent Carson Steele failing to bring his preseason success to the regular season, the Chiefs had no choice but to turn to an aging Kareem Hunt.
Hunt performed well early in the season, but his efficiency dropped as the season progressed and he is not a long-term solution. The rest of the depth chart consists of aging veterans and no-name journeymen, and adding a star like Ashton Jeanty in the draft could make this offense all the more dangerous. The Chiefs will probably have to draft Jeanty in the first round, which is a steep price to pay for a luxury position like running back. However, General Manager Brett Veach did it before with Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and he could do it again with a considerably better prospect.
Jim Harbaugh’s Vision
Nobody believes in the power of the run game more than Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh. During his time with the San Francisco 49ers, the head coach ran his offense through star running back Frank Gore and complemented it with an efficient passing game led by Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is better than either of those players, but that won’t stop Harbaugh from trying to win with a run-first attack.
Free agent signee J.K. Dobbins has performed admirably as the Chargers lead back, but he’s not a long-term solution. The former second-round pick will become a free agent at the end of the season, and his extensive injury history makes him a questionable choice for a multi-year deal. Injuries can strike any player at any time, and the risk of suffering an ailment rises with every touch. Ashton Jeanty might not stay healthy in the NFL, but his 5′-9″, 216-pound frame combined with his college tape suggests he could handle a featured workload in the NFL. While some analytically-driven teams won’t select a running back in the first round, the old-school Harbaugh should have no issues pulling the trigger on that type of deal.
Main Photo: Brian Losness – USA Today Sports
