Mel Kiper Jr. Forecasts Ashton Jeanty’s Next NFL Team Selection

You ever have one of those moments where you’re just sitting around, thinking about football, and then… BAM! The NFL Draft rumors hit like a tidal wave. Yeah, that’s what it’s like right now. The hype train is chugging full speed and honestly, it’s hard to keep up with all the chatter. But one name keeps popping up like a catchy song you can’t shake: Ashton Jeanty from Boise State. The kind of guy who makes team managers get all jittery because they want him on their squad like yesterday.

Mel Kiper Jr.—the guy who lives and breathes drafts like some kind of seafood enthusiast in a coastal town—dropped by the show “Up & Adams.” He was going on about the 2025 class, rattling off predictions like he’s got a crystal ball. Now, here’s where it gets juicy: he pegged Jeanty as a top-10 contender. Picture this, right? The Las Vegas Raiders, sitting pretty with the sixth pick, eyeing Jeanty like a kid in front of a candy store, itching to snag him.

Now, some folks say top-10 is too steep, especially for a running back. But Kiper? He’s all, “nah, man, I got this,” backing his call like it’s the gospel of Mel. He threw in a bit of chatter about the Jags, Pats, and Pete Carroll too, painting a scenario where Jeanty’s off the board faster than you can say “touchdown.”

Anyway—oops, almost got lost there—what’s interesting is Pete Carroll (yep, that Pete Carroll who turned USC into a beast) is steering the Raiders’ ship now. He’s got history, folks. Talk a Super Bowl ring with Seattle, and this guy doesn’t mess around.

Carroll’s no stranger to building powerhouses, and he favors a good old-fashioned ground game. That’s where Jeanty could slide in perfectly. This dude had a monster year, runner-up for the Heisman with over 2,600 rushing yards. Just madness if you ask me. Plus, tossing some Maxwell and Doak Walker awards onto his growing list of trophies? It’s like Jeanty’s sitting on a throne made of football accolades.

So, could the Raiders with Carroll and Jeanty become the next big thing? Maybe. Seems like they could shake things up in Vegas, city of bright lights and wild nights. Anyway, guessing games are all we have until the draft rolls around. Meanwhile, folks like me just wait, with pretend patience, because only time and a lot of team strategizing will tell.