The Las Vegas Raiders selected Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, the Heisman Trophy runner-up and Maxwell Award winner, with the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The team had the league’s worst rushing attack last year, so Jeanty stands to give them a big boost in that area.
Of course, a running back alone can’t bolster a rushing attack, as the offensive line has to be dominant up front as well, and the Raiders have been trying to build that up recently as well. Kolton Miller is a longtime stalwart at left tackle, but the team also drafted center Jackson Powers-Johnson out of Oregon in the second round of last year’s draft.
Powers-Johnson is also excited about what the Raiders are building and knows that Jeanty will be a significant part of this offense and will lead the way for the new back. And that is why Powers-Johnson went out of his way to introduce himself to the Raiders’ new lead back, via Raiders on X:
I’m Jackson, your center 👋 pic.twitter.com/ZaXi17oCuM
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) May 9, 2025
Much of the focus tends to stick towards the skill-position players. With the Raiders drafting Jeanty to go along with last year’s first-round pick Brock Bowers, who is already one of the best tight ends in the NFL, not to mention new quarterback Geno Smith, who represents a massive upgrade over last year’s signal-callers, the Raiders certainly have some pieces.
But games are won in the trenches, and Powers-Johnson is one of the most important pieces of the offensive line. Jeanty getting close and on good terms with the man who will be paving the way in front of him for the Raiders is important. For his part, Powers-Johnson seemed pretty excited for Jeanty to be in the building, as he understands the impact the back can make on this Raiders offense.
Last season, Jeanty rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns at Boise State. If he plans on breaking some big plays for the Raiders at the NFL level, he will need Powers-Johnson and the rest of the Raiders’ offensive line to be on point and open up some big holes.
Raiders agree to four-year, fully guaranteed contract with Ashton Jeanty
The Raiders have agreed to a four-year, fully guaranteed contract with first-round pick Ashton Jeanty that is worth $35.89 million. The deal also includes a $22.7 million signing bonus.
