CINCINNATI — The Bengals met with Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis.
Jeanty is considered a top player in this draft, but some wonder if he could fall farther than expected because he’s a running back.
Jeanty said his visit with the Bengals was “great.” He also met with the Bears, Broncos and Raiders, among other teams.
The 21-year-old is fifth on Dane Brugler’s big board. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared him to LaDainian Tomlinson.
“Jeanty plays a position that has become devalued on draft day, but his unique talent and the resurgence of the run game in the NFL should force teams to reconsider that factor when weighing his value.” Zierlein wrote. “He’s the ultimate yardage creator, with the talent and skill set to succeed independent of the quality of his blocking. Jeanty’s speed forces linebackers to flow hard outside, creating cutback lanes and chunk runs, while his vision, balance and elusiveness get it done along the interior. The threat of what he can do on the ground should create ideal play-action opportunities for his team, allowing his next play-caller to, say, unburden a young quarterback or any other passer being asked to shoulder too much of the offense.
“He’s compact and muscular, but there could be some minor concern surrounding his massive workload in 2024. This top-flight running back is capable of becoming the face of an offense in a league where the pendulum might be swinging back to the running game. Jeanty has future All-Pro talent.”
Jeanty could easily be the best player on the board when the Bengals are picking at No. 17. Would they take a running back in the first round?
“We are trying to fill the needs we have in free agency first and the draft comes second,” Duke Tobin said this week. “The draft is something that we are not going to pass players because they don’t fit the current need if they are the best player available. If they have more of the traits than the next guy on the list we will probably stay with the guy with the more traits—in the draft.”
Jeanty ran for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns last season. He also had 23 catches for 138 yards and one score. He finished second in Heisman Trophy voting behind Travis Hunter.
