It’s always exciting for a quarterback when his team selects three offensive weapons through the first four rounds of an NFL draft–Las Vegas Raiders signal caller Geno Smith is learning that through the additions of Ashton Jeanty, Jack Bech, and Dont’e Thornton Jr.
When the Las Vegas Raiders were up on the clock at pick six in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, many were convinced an offensive tackle’s name was coming off the board. For some, that was Armand Membou, the eventual seventh-overall selection hailing from Missouri. Others expected to hear Kelvin Banks Jr.‘s name get called.
Instead, Sin City’s first-year general manager John Spytek rolled the dice with Boise State superstar running back Ashton Jeanty.
The Raiders did, after all, finish their ’24 campaign 32-of-32 in both total rushing yards (1,357) and yards carry (3.6).
But the selection of Jeanty was more than adding an unbelievably talented player to the Raiders’ roster; one who, by himself, finished his ’24 season with over 600 more yards after contact alone than Las Vegas’ team totaled altogether on the ground in the same year, pre- and post-contact combined.
It was about adding a leader, a competitor, and a player who shows up every day with intent to improve his game. Someone who’s dead set on perfecting his craft day in and day out, and his love for football wouldn’t let him have it any other way.
That’s what the Silver and Black have in Ashton Jeanty.
Don’t take my word for it–take the word of Jeanty’s teammates and coaches, each who have been more impressed with who the 21-year-old is as a person than they are his well-documented talents.
That includes Geno Smith.
Las Vegas Raiders QB1 Geno Smith talks Raiders rookies; Ashton Jeanty, Jack Bech, Dont’e Thornton Jr.
Since the first few days of getting familiar with Jeanty, it’s been the rookie’s personality that’s stuck with Smith the most. That’s something the 34-year-old signal caller made clear less than one week after the conclusion of April’s draft.
“You know, I think, Ashton, just from getting to know him, he’s so wise beyond his years,” Smith noted.
“Just super humble. For all the accolades he’s gotten, to be one of the highest drafted running backs in a while. Super humble. Super hard working.”
Smith’s tune hasn’t changed just over halfway through June, either. Sin City’s signal caller confirmed that on Tuesday.
“This rookie class is very mature,” said Smith during Raiders media day.
“A lot of guys who’ve played a lot of football, understand how to work, and they’re pros.
“We’ve got high expectations for Ashton, but the main thing is that he works. And that he follows the leadership of the veteran guys.”
Smith is, of course, right on the money. When you finish 28 yards short of Barry Sanders’ single-season college rushing record, a record that long felt untouchable, expectations are indeed sky-high.
But that’s no problem for Jeanty, who isn’t concerned about expectations outside the building.
As for rookie receivers Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton, they too received their just dues from Smith. “I think Dont’e and Jack have done a great job of just stepping right in and becoming a part of this team,” the multi-time Pro Bowl quarterback mentioned.
Raiders’ head coach Pete Carroll gave Bech and Thornton Jr. a shoutout of his own late last week.
“Dont’e and Jack, they did their stuff,” Carroll made sure to throw in when speaking on the rookie’s performances.
Both Bech and Thornton Jr. and expected to be immediate contributors for Las Vegas’ football team this upcoming season. Paired with Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers, Sin City’s pass-catching unit has the opportunity to be quite formidable in 2025.
*Top Photo: Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP
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