Bolts From The Blue
The all-star running back could be worth a trade up for a Chargers team desperate to run the football
It’s no secret that the priority under the Jim Harbaugh regime has been to establish the running game to ease pressure from the arm of franchise quarterback Justin Herbert. In the 2025 NFL Draft there is a running back that would be a complete dynamo in Harbaugh’s offensive system, but the question is would the team move up to go get him and pay the price for a position that has been undervalued recently. If any back in recent memory is worth it on draft day, it’s Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty.
The Heisman finalist had one of the finest seasons for a running back in college history for the Broncos and gave the impression he will be one of the more productive and gifted backs at the next level as he entered the 2025 NFL Draft. Last season Jeanty carried the load, carrying the ball 374 times for a whopping 2,601 yards, and finding the end zone 30 times on the season. Jeanty was the clear engine of that offense in which every defense knew he was going to get the football but had zero answers on how to stop the powerful and balanced runner.
There is virtually no chance that Jeanty falls into the laps of the Chargers later in the first round, especially following the recent amplification of importance at the position thanks to Saquon Barkley. If Los Angeles really wants to make a statement on shifting the dynamics of this offense, they will likely need to move up within the top 10 picks of the draft, which could be quite expensive for a position that is not a quarterback or edge rusher. However, given the re-establishment of the position, and the possibility of getting a fresh legged superstar to come in and be the cornerstone on offense for the next decade, one has to at least consider the cost and the risks involved. There is perhaps no better fit for Jeanty than the Chargers, it’s just a matter if the team is willing to pay the price to make it work.
