2 weeks Ago By Taylor Kyles
Photo by Patrick Mulligan/Getty Images Scouting report for the Boise State running back, who is expected to be a top-10 pick in this year’s draft. We know what you’re probably thinking. We get it.
They already have Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson atop the depth chart. They have major issues on the left side of their offensive line. They simply have other needs and targets they could spend the No.
4 pick on. All of this is true.However, there is an argument to be made for the New England Patriots drafting Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty at No.
4 overall: he is a damn good football player, and if they are serious about going best player available, it looks increasingly likely he will be just that once they are on the clock.So, before jumping to what surely will be a lively comment section, please take a moment to read up on the two-time Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year.Hard factsName: Ashton JeantyPosition: Running backSchool: Boise StateOpening day age: 21 (12/2/2003)Measurements: 5’8 1/2”, 211 lbs, 72 3/4” wingspan, 29 1/4” arm length, 9 1/4” hand size, N/A Relative Athletic ScoreExperienceColleges: Boise State (2022-24)Career statistics: 40 games (26 starts) | 1,652 offensive snaps, 19 special teams snaps | 750 carries, 4,769 rushing yards (6.
4 yards/carry), 50 TDs | 97 targets, 80 catches (82.5%), 862 receiving yards, 6 TDs | 4 kickoff returns, 35 yards (8.8 yards/return), 1 TD | 10 fumbles, 4 drops (4.
1%)Accolades: Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year (2024, 2023), Unanimous All-American (2024), First-team All-Mountain West (2024), Doak Walker Award (2024), Maxwell Award (2024), First-team All-American (2023), Honorable mention All-Mountain West (2022)Jeanty was a multi-sport athlete during his time at Lone Star High School in Frisco, TX, who showed some versatility on the football field. He played wide receiver, safety and even defensive lineman before finally taking over as the team’s lead running back as a senior.Rated as a three-star player coming out, his recruiting process started off relatively slowly and the big schools were hesitant to offer him.
He eventually committed to Boise State early in his senior season, and stayed true to his choice even as others finally started to show some interest. In total, he spent three seasons with the Broncos and developed into the most productive running back in the country along the way.The Mountain West’s leading rusher in both 2023 and 2024, who also was a productive receiver as well as a team captain, he started a combined 26 games.
Along the way, he touched the ball 830 times for 5,631 yards and 56 touchdowns. His best season came in 2024, when he led the FBS with 2,601 rushing yards and 29 scores; he finished second behind Travis Hunter in the Heisman Trophy vote and became only the second running back in FBS history to eclipse 2,600 yards in a single season (behind Barry Sanders’ 2,628 in 1988).Jeanty decided to skip his senior season at Boise State to enter the draft.
He was invited to the Scouting Combine and participated in the weigh-ins, but opted not to do any of the on-field work.Draft profileExpected round: 1 (top 10) | Consensus big board: No. 3 | Patriots meeting: N/AStrengths: As far as running backs go, Jeanty is as complete a prospect as you will find.
He is on the shorter size at just under 5-foot-9, but he uses his low center of gravity and muscular build to its maximum extent. Arguably the best player in this draft as far as contact balance is concerned, he is a tough guy to bring down. The tape says so, and so do the numbers: he forced 284 missed tackles in three seasons at Boise State, including 151 during his standout 2024 season — 49 more than his closest competition, Cam Skattebo.
He gained 1,970 yards after contact, 748 more than second-ranked Omarion Hampton.Ashton Jeanty making run defenders miss vs:- Oregon- UNLV- Penn State pic.twitter.
com/wc54BtFX50— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) April 20, 2025Jeanty’s otherworldly contact balance is supported by an explosive athletic skillset as well as good vision and instincts. His first step is deadly and he bursts through gaps as if shot out of a cannon; he does not hesitate and instead trusts his blockers and just goes for the hole, all while being patient and aware enough to recognize cutback lanes. He did not see plenty of opportunities doing so coming from a gap-based offense, but he possesses the lateral agility and powerful lower body to work in any scheme.
And once up to speed, he can juke defenders out of their shoes without decelerating too much.Ashton Jeanty 2024 targets pic.twitter.
com/GItAkK94Pp— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) April 21, 2025In addition to his all-around skillset as a ball carrier, Jeanty also has shown promise as a receiver. He only caught 80 passes during his college career, but he quickly transitions from receiver back to runner and exhibits all of the attributes that make him great in that area. He has good hands and also was not afraid of taking on blockers.
Credited with 208 pass blocking reps in college, he gave up just one sack.Weaknesses: Jeanty’s long speed was enough to dominate the Mountain West, but running away from defenders might be more of a challenge in the NFL. He also had some ball security problems, leaving the ball exposed and putting in on the ground a combined 11 times in three seasons.
There is some context to be mentioned — one fumble was called back due to penalty, another came on an onside kick he fielded — but he oftentimes tried gaining extra yards when there simply were none to be gained.Jeanty also needs to show that his pass protection can hold up against pro-level competition. He only gave up 14 total pressures including the aforementioned sack (6.
7%), but he also will have to get used to bigger, better defender charging into the backfield on Sundays. Finally, he has some wear and tear on his tires despite only playing three years of college football; he averaged 277 touches per season, and had 397 in 2024 alone.Patriots previewWhat would be his role? Jeanty has all the makings of an instant starter at the running back position and potential three-down presence on offense.
Would he be that in New England, though? At least early on, probably not. Instead, he would become either the 1A or 1B to Rhamondre Stevenson, with Antonio Gibson as more of a change-of-pace options behind them. The Patriots could opt to use Jeanty and Stevenson relative to game situation and down and distance.
What is his growth potential? Jeanty already is a well-rounded, high-floor player at the running back position. There are some minor questions primarily about his ball security, but if he manages to address it there is no denying he can be a featured back performing at an All-Pro level.Does he have positional versatility? Within the context of the running back position, Jeanty does have some versatility: he can run, he can catch, he can block.
However, he should not be expected to do much more than that. His special teams value is limited at best, and he is better suited to align in the backfield rather than be moved around the formation.Why the Patriots? The Patriots need weapons on offense, and outside of Travis Hunter — who might be off the board by the time they are on the clock — there is no better prospect available this year.
Picking Jeanty would be about supporting Drake Maye with the best player on the board at that particular point in the draft, and also aid an offensive line that projects to be better in run blocking than pass protection (the Patriots can also still find starter-caliber offensive linemen later in the draft). Josh McDaniels drawing up play-action passes from such an alignment would feed families.Why not the Patriots? Two words: offensive line.
While the Patriots are set on the right with Michael Onwenu and Morgan Moses — two A-grade run blockers — the rest of the line has one big, illuminated “vacant” sign hanging over the front door. Just look another blue-chip prospect, Saquon Barkley, to see what inserting a top-tier running back into an offense with major O-line issues can do: Barkley turned from a player who never lived up to his potential in New York to NFL Offensive Player of the Year in Philadelphia.One-sentence verdict: One of the few true blue-chip prospects in this year’s draft, Jeanty would be an unconventional pick at No.
4 but one who would have a positive impact on the Patriots offense from Day 1.What do you think about Ashton Jeanty as a potential Patriots target? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts..
