Canal Street Chronicles
New Orleans could potentially add to their running back room early.
New Orleans Saints running backs coach Joel Thomas was in attendance for Boise State’s pro day, per Luke Johnson.
Thomas was in attendance to spectate running back Ashton Jeanty. Jeanty had a monster year in 2024, rushing for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns, finishing second in Heisman voting.
While no player is a bona fide star right out of college, Jeanty is as close as you can get. His mass production in college and game IQ set the potential top 10 pick in the same category as Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants first-round picks Bijan Robinson and Saquan Barkely, both players rated highly out of college and contributed right away.
The Heisman runner-up is likely a top 10 NFL Draft pick, often being mocked to the Las Vegas Raiders (6th overall pick), Chicago Bears (10th overall pick), and New Orleans Saints (9th overall pick). While the Saints aren't just a running back away from being competitive, drafting Jeanty would be a crucial part of the team’s future, helping whoever their future quarterback may be.
New Orleans offense will likely try to replicate the success new head coach Kellen Moore saw with the Philadelphia Eagles and focus on their running backs. A run game consisting of a Pro Bowl veteran in Alvin Kamara and the fresh legs of Ashton Jeanty would be too much for opposing defenses to handle. The Saints aren’t strangers to this form of offense, with the iconic “Boom and Zoom” era centered around Kamara and Mark Ingram.
The Saints' coaching staff has been busy this week with Pro Days and have scouted a range of schools with first-round players. While it isn't a certainty, sending Thomas to spectate Jeanty’s performance at his Pro Day is a tip that New Orleans is interested in adding the star running back to their locker room with the ninth pick.
Make sure you follow Canal Street Chronicles on Twitter at @SaintsCSC, “Like” us on Facebook at Canal Street Chronicles, and make sure you’re subscribed to our new YouTube channel
