Ashton Jeanty knew he was Vegas-bound after Raiders GM’s son issued draft ultimatum

Before Day 1 of the draft, Raiders GM John Spytek’s son warned him he would leave the family if the team didn’t draft Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.

Ashton Jeanty knew he was Vegas-bound after Raiders GM’s son issued draft ultimatum

Ashton Jeanty (Image via IMAGO)

Ashton Jeanty needs to gift something expensive to Raiders general manager John Spytek’s son. He’s partly the reason the Boise State speedster finds himself in the same shoes as his idol, Marshawn Lynch.

Most fans were eager to see which NFL team Shedeur Sanders ends up at, but a few also kept their eyes on a guy who nearly broke legendary Barry Sanders’ college rushing yards record in 2024. The Raiders definitely were.

The Raiders were put on the clock shortly after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell finished talking with the Cleveland Browns’ new defensive lineman, Mason Graham. Spytek made his son proud by drafting Ashton Jeanty 6th overall.

The 5-foot-11 running back became the first RB since Saquon Barkley in 2018 to be drafted in the top ten of the NFL draft. Coincidentally, Spytek saw a bit of Barkley magic in Jeanty when he was lighting up the Mountain West last year. And on top of it, his son threatened to leave the family if the Raiders didn’t draft the 21-year-old speedster.

My son has made it no secret that if we don’t pick Ashton Jeanty at number six… He’s walking out of the family, and he’s gonna find somebody else, probably whoever takes Ashton [Jeanty]. He walked right into our building and told [Raiders owner] Mark Davis, ‘If my dad doesn’t take Ashton Jeanty, he’s doing a bad job.’

John Spytek said

Jeanty was available to speak with the media for the first time as a Raider. He surprisingly knew that Spytek’s son wanted him in Vegas.

Uh, you know, it made me laugh really hard. Once I seen that come out on social media, I’m like, ‘Man, there’s no way they’re not gonna pick me at No. 6 if I’m still there’.

Ashton Jeanty said

Ashton Jeanty to sign a mouthwatering rookie deal with the Raiders

Drafts are a great way to reduce the average age of the team. Cash-strapped teams often turn to the draft to select the best available player to make the roster stronger instead of paying a huge sum of money to veteran players.

Ashton Jeanty knew he was Vegas-bound after Raiders GM's son issued draft ultimatum
Ashton Jeanty (Image via IMAGO)

The Raiders drafted Jeanty to fix their worst running offense in the league (2024). 19 touchdowns in 17 games isn’t exactly the offense that wins a Super Bowl.

Jeanty had 2000+ yards (7.0 yards per carry) in his final year with Boise State, and he was drafted sixth overall. The combination is set to make him a very rich guy who is not even the same age as Tyler Shough. According to Broncos Nation News’ Mike Prater, Ashton Jeanty’s projected rookie deal will be worth $31.8 million.

Ashton Jeanty goes No. 6 to the Raiders. He’s the highest RB drafted into the NFL since Saquon Barkley in 2018 (No. 2) and the highest Boise State pick ever. Jeanty’s rookie contract: $31.8M/$19.8M signing bonus.

Mike Prater wrote on X

His contract looks eerily similar to Barkley’s rookie deal with the New York Giants. He penned a four-year rookie contract worth $31.2 million fully guaranteed. Now he’s with the Philadelphia Eagles and won the Super Bowl in February.

Favorites for the 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year award

Nobody knows where Sanders will end up, but bookmakers have already started to curate the next rookie award recipient odds. FanDuel released their pick after day one, and Jeanty is in the driver’s seat with +340.

Jeanty is bound to be the starter for the Raiders. He has the Beast Mode aura that Coach Carroll always searches for in a running back.

He will have tough competition from the likes of Jaguars’ Travis Hunter, Titans’ Cam Ward, Chargers’ Omarion Hampton, and Panthers’ Tetairoa McMillan.

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