Las Vegas Raiders’ new general manager, John Spytek, has hinted at the direction the team might take with their sixth overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft — and it’s not promising for Shedeur Sanders.
The Raiders already signaled they might not pursue Sanders after trading for and extending quarterback Geno Smith from the Seahawks. They dealt a third-round pick and committed to a two-year, $85 million contract, locking Smith in through 2027 and outlining clear goals for his role.
Despite that move, rumors persisted that Las Vegas could still be eyeing Sanders. However, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty has emerged as the likely target at No. 6. New head coach Pete Carroll has a run-heavy approach, and Jeanty has even drawn comparisons to Carroll’s former star, Marshawn Lynch.
When asked about using the sixth pick on a running back, Spytek defended the idea. He pointed to Saquon Barkley’s impact on the Eagles and challenged the recent devaluation of running backs in the league. Drawing from his background at the University of Michigan, he emphasized how highly backs were regarded.
Jeanty is widely considered one of the best running backs to enter the draft in years, finishing his last season at Boise State with 2,601 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns.
While Jeanty appears to be the top candidate, Spytek didn’t entirely rule out selecting a quarterback to develop behind Smith. He acknowledged bringing in several quarterbacks for interviews, stating: “That wasn’t by accident. We’re still open to getting the most important position in sports right.
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