The pre-draft news cycle spent countless hours trying to figure out who the Raiders were going to take with the no. 6 pick and while many mock drafts had them taking Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, some around the league were reportedly surprised by the pick.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, some who know Pete Carroll and John Spytek thought the tandem would address another position with their first-round pick.
From Fowler’s insider piece on Wednesday:
“Based on blue-chip players available, Ashton Jeanty was clearly the best option for Vegas at No. 6. But some around the league who know GM John Spytek and coach Pete Carroll well were mildly surprised. Rashaad Penny (No. 27 overall in 2018) was the only first-round running back taken during Carroll’s Seattle tenure from 2010 to 2023. The Bucs never drafted a Day 1 back during Spytek’s run there from 2016 to 2024. The Raiders saw Jeanty as simply different, a true tone-changer.
Then, they traded back twice on Day 2 — moving picks Nos. 37 and 143 to Miami for Nos. 48, 98, 135, then sending 48 to Houston for No. 58 and 99. Spytek and the Raiders decided to stay open-minded on trades knowing two things — needs along the roster were prevalent, and Day 2 was the strength of the draft. Getting three third-round picks was crucial.”
Since the draft, it’s been reported that Jeanty was most likely the Raiders’ top target if Cam Ward and Abdul Carter weren’t available with the sixth pick.
According to Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter, it most likely would have been a defensive player headed to Las Vegas if Jeanty had been drafted ahead of the Raiders.
From Carpenter, via the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast:
“I can tell you this. I do not believe they would have taken Jeanty if they could have gotten Cam Ward. And I do not believe they would have taken Jeanty had they could have gotten Abdul Carter. I think if they walked away with Cam Ward, if they walked away with Abdul Carter, they walked away with Jeanty, they were going to be happy. I think they would have taken Abdul and then Cam Ward. And if Jeanty wouldn’t have been there, you know, a Mason Graham, a Jalon Walker… [but] probably Jalon.”
x: @raidersbeat