Why Ashton Jeanty might actually be the perfect NY Jets draft target

The New York Jets will enter the 2025 NFL Draft with plenty of options at their disposal and a number of key roster needs to address. Holding the No. 7 overall pick, they’ve been linked to a wide range of top prospects, ranging from offensive linemen and pass catchers to defensive linemen and even quarterbacks.

With a new regime in place and a longer-term vision taking shape, it’s hard to pin down exactly what direction the Jets will go on draft day. Will they complete their offensive line by drafting someone like Armond Membou? Will they add a much-needed pass-catcher to their offense? Could they even consider drafting a new QB to develop?

All options remain on the table, but one under-discussed target for the Jets might just be the best player in this entire draft class. Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty should be in the conversation.

On the surface, drafting a running back that early would spark confusion and probably some backlash among fans. But dig a little deeper, and Jeanty might actually be the perfect fit for what this roster needs and what this Jets offense is trying to become.

The NY Jets should consider targeting Ashton Jeanty in the 2025 NFL Draft

The 2025 NFL Draft class isn’t exactly overflowing with blue-chip talent. There’s a noticeable shortage of true high-end prospects this year, but Ashton Jeanty is one of the few exceptions. For what it's worth, he’s going to be my second-ranked overall player in the class, behind only Colorado’s Travis Hunter.

Jeanty is an otherworldly running back prospect, likely the best talent we've seen enter the NFL at the position since Saquon Barkley was drafted second overall in 2018. His 2024 season was one of the best individual performances in college football history.

Jeanty finished the year with 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns while averaging a ridiculous 7.0 yards per carry. He came just 28 yards shy of breaking Barry Sanders' single-season FBS rushing record.

I shouldn't need to sell anyone on Jeanty as a prospect — he's as close to a generational running back talent as we've seen in recent years. The more contentious discussion revolves around his fit with the Jets.

In a year where many top-10 prospects come with significant question marks, Jeanty offers the kind of dynamic, explosive skill set that could immediately reshape an NFL offense. And for a team like the Jets, who aren’t necessarily trying to win a Super Bowl in 2025, drafting the best player available — regardless of position — should be the priority.

The Jets aren’t in “win-now” mode. They’re in “build-something-sustainable” mode. That means adding cornerstone talent wherever it’s available, and not letting positional value get in the way of simply stacking young building blocks.

Jeanty fits that bill. He’s the kind of young, high-upside weapon you can build an offense around, and he’d bring an immediate spark to a unit still trying to find its identity.

That’s where Aaron Glenn’s background becomes especially relevant. Glenn comes from a Detroit Lions team that faced a strikingly similar situation just two years ago.

Despite already having David Montgomery under contract, the Lions used the 12th overall pick in 2023 on Jahmyr Gibbs, a move that was heavily criticized at the time. But Detroit knew what it was doing.

The Gibbs-Montgomery backfield has since become the foundation of the Lions’ offensive identity. The "Sonic" and "Knuckles" pairing of Gibbs and Montgomery transformed Detroit's offense.

The Jets could attempt to recreate that exact formula with Breece Hall and Ashton Jeanty.

Hall is an excellent talent who was one of the best running backs in football in 2023, finishing top four in scrimmage yards despite playing in the league’s 31st-ranked offense. But his 2024 season told a different story.

Hall’s efficiency dipped, averaging just 4.2 yards per carry, and more concerning were his ball security issues — he fumbled six times, doubling his total from his first two years combined. Add in nine dropped passes, and you begin to understand why Hall isn’t quite the surefire building block many fans believe him to be.

The running back position is fickle in nature. Two years ago, Travis Etienne was widely seen as one of the best running backs in the NFL. Now, his Jacksonville Jaguars are another potential landing spot for Jeanty in this draft.

The reality is that, if Hall struggles again in 2025, it might be his last year with the Jets. The former Iowa State star is already entering the final year of his contract, and the Jets likely wouldn't be rushing to extend a fourth-year running back coming off consecutive disappointing campaigns.

This isn't to say that Hall is a lost cause — far from it. He's just not the guaranteed franchise cornerstone many seem to suggest he is. He's a major question mark entering the 2025 season.

Pairing Hall and Jeanty wouldn’t just provide insurance — it would give the Jets a defined offensive identity. Jeanty’s powerful, explosive style complements Hall’s breakaway ability, much like the Lions’ dual-threat tandem in Detroit.

Suddenly, the Jets would have a young, cost-controlled backfield built to support a developing quarterback and take pressure off an offensive line that already has some very intriguing pieces.

Personally, I’d still lean toward Missouri’s Armand Membou at No. 7 if he’s available, as he would complete the offensive line. But if he’s off the board? Taking a swing on Ashton Jeanty isn’t just justifiable — it might be the smartest move they could make.

It might not be the popular consensus or conventional pick, but that's not how contenders are built in this league. This Jets roster needs blue-chip talent, and Ashton Jeanty brings exactly that. Don't sleep on him as a potential draft target.

More NY Jets news and analysis: