Everyone knew Ashton Jeanty would be the first running back taken in the 2025 NFL Draft. And he was selected sixth overall by the Las Vegas Raiders. The Boise State alum has also signed a hefty contract for a running back.
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Jeanty signed a four-year, $35,895,812 contract with the Raiders. It includes a $22,746,044 signing bonus, $35,895,812 guaranteed. His paycheck would average $8,973,953 per season.
While he has become the 12th-highest paid running back in the NFL, Jeanty’s $35.89 million guaranteed money places him second in the league. He trails Saquon Barkley, who has $36 million guaranteed on his current deal. It’s also a departure from the norm that Jeanty is getting paid more per year in guaranteed money than a first-round quarterback from this year’s draft.
Jaxson Dart, for instance, will earn just $16,977,927 guaranteed in his contract. The QB was picked by the New York Giants 25th overall. And he signed a four-year, $16,977,927 contract (averaging $4,244,482 per season), in addition to a $8,987,584 signing bonus.
So why is the running back (a position valued way less than quarterback) being paid more?
Well, it’s because of how high he was drafted. The NFL has set contract slabs for each pick in the draft. And the higher you are picked, the more you will earn.
Upon finding out that he makes the second-most guaranteed pay among running backs in the NFL, Jeanty was shocked. He revealed it on the St. Brown Podcast, adding that he wants to play well and justify the contract.
“I saw that and I was like, ‘what, there’s no way’,” Jeanty said. “I feel like it shows the position guys should be paid more, but also I put that work in, obviously they [have] seen something in me, everyone is expecting me to come in and play like that.”
The contract disparity is also reflective of how Jeanty and Dart are in completely different situations heading into their rookie seasons. The running back is expected to be a day-one starter. That isn’t the case for Dart.
It’s rare to see a running back picked as high as Jeanty these days, but the Raiders did so for a reason. They had the worst run game in the league (in yards and yards per carry) and needed an upgrade at the position. They have big plans for Jeanty, and he could become the league’s next best running back.
As for Dart, he has joined a New York team that has been trying to figure out who its franchise quarterback will be. Russell Wilson is expected to start, and Dart will have to battle Jameis Winston for the No. 2 spot.
Dart will likely ride the bench this season, but hopefully the experience will allow him to flourish as a starter one day.
