Will Ashton Jeanty, 2025 draft RB class change the complexion of the NFL?

There was no shortage of excitement ahead of the NFL Draft about the running backs. 

Maybe you noticed the love for the star ball-carriers beyond the obvious ones: Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton. But … maybe you missed it, which would be understandable, given the way the NFL has — or had — treated the position in recent years. Over the past five years, the running-backs-don’t-matter sentiment showed up on draft day and in free agency. It was hard to take RB hype too seriously.

But then the Eagles won the Super Bowl on the back of Saquon Barkley and the offensive line. It was a team effort, yes. But Saquon was the centerpiece. I get it: That defense is incredible. And quarterback Jalen Hurts is among my favorite players in the NFL. But Hurts played an efficiency game in 2024 that helped him transcend into an elite tier. He could afford to throw the ball sparingly because of Saquon. The Eagles won time of possession in 12 of their 17 regular-season games and led the NFL in time of possession (32:21). That's also because of Saquon. Those possession numbers help that defense in a big way. 

It’s a copycat league. You can bet teams wanted to use the draft to bulk up their offensive lines and acquire running backs who can help build contenders that look like the Eagles, who bullied the crap out of NFL defenses this year.

I think at least six running backs could emerge this year as their teams' RB1. If that’s the case, we’ll see 19% of the top jobs turn over to the class of 2025. Here are the top eight RBs selected (and a ninth guy who I think will strongly contend for a starting job), with FOX Sports draft analyst Rob Rang’s best-case comp. 

6th overall: Ashton Jeanty, Raiders — LaDanian Tomlinson
22nd overall: Omarion