NFL Draft expert thinks Patriots should take running back with No. 4 pick

"So if you’re just going pure ‘best available player,’ it’d be Jeanty."

Ashton Jeanty recorded 2,601 rushing yards last season at Boise State. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

March 25, 2025

3 minutes to read

The Patriots have several deficiencies across their depth chart in need of an injection of talent this offseason.

As such, the Patriots have been linked to several intriguing prospects ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. New England is projected to select players like pass rusher Abdul Carter, two-way star Travis Hunter, and offensive tackles Will Campbell and Armand Membou with the fourth overall pick.

Any one of those selections would address an area of need in New England. Or at the very least, they’d represent a proven, blue-chip talent for a roster short on game changers at this stage of a lengthy rebuild.

But even if the Patriots will likely be in line to select at least one of those four players mentioned above, one NFL Draft expert thinks that the Patriots might instead opt for … a running back?

During an appearance on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday, NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah acknowledged that there’s a realistic scenario where arguably the most talented prospects in this class in Carter and Hunter are off the board when the Patriots land on the clock.

But rather than potentially reach for a tackle like Campbell or Membou, Jeremiah believes New England should opt for the best player available at that spot in the draft order in Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.

If Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter are both gone at 4…Ashton Jeanty?????

Per: @PatMcAfeeShow , @MoveTheSticks

"If the Patriots don't get Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter I think it should be Ashton Jeanty”

😐 pic.twitter.com/MD87eY5qja
— Savage (@SavageSports_) March 24, 2025

“Yeah, I would say if you don’t get Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter, I would add a little line to the end of ‘best available,’” Jeremiah said. “I would say ‘best available player that can help your quarterback.’ So I would be looking on the offensive side of the ball, and Ashton Jeanty — I have him as, I think, the No. 3 player in the draft.

“So if you’re just going pure ‘best available player,’ it’d be Jeanty. And if you’re obviously looking on the offensive side of the ball, he would be the guy there from the offensive side of the ball standpoint. So I just feel like that’s gotta help. Unless you can get Abdul Carter — like somehow Abdul Carter gets there, I get it. But man, like, if you draft Travis Hunter, he’d play at receiver, he helps Drake Maye. This first pick after a defensive-heavy free agency, it just feels like, ‘Man, this has gotta be a pick that helps Drake Maye.’”

If the Patriots are in search of pure production, Jeanty has all of the tools to carve up NFL defenses as soon as this fall. The 21-year-old running back was a force for Boise State in 2024, rushing for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns.

Jeanty fell just 27 yards shy of Barry Sanders’ record for the most single-season rushing yards in college football history (2,628, 1988).

Jeanty’s high floor and ability to make an immediate impact on a lackluster Patriots offense would be very appealing. But selecting a running back with the fourth overall pick may not offer the greatest value at that juncture of the draft, even if there’s more risk involved with a tackle like Campbell or Membou.

The case could also be made that Jeanty’s impact would be lessened given the still glaring hole at the tackle position on New England roster.

The Patriots had a lackluster season in 2024 from featured running back Rhamondre Stevenson (801 rushing yards, 3.9 yards per attempt), but New England still has multiple options at the position between him and Antonio Gibson.

As talented as Jeanty is, he would likely be a luxury to take at No. 4 overall, a scenario that’s not afforded to a Patriots team that still has plenty of work to do when it comes to building up its roster.