Jerry Jones thought he had it all figured out—big money, big moves, and a master plan that only he could see coming. But just when he was setting up the chessboard for another ‘flashy’ Cowboys offseason, boom—tampering allegations shook the league, and an unexpected draft twist hit like a blindside sack. Ashton Jeanty, the Boise State phenom, was supposed to be in the mix. A perfect fit. A no-brainer. But now? It’s all chaos. And with the Raiders lurking at No. 6, ready to snatch Jeanty off the board, Jones might be watching his dream pick slip right through his fingers.

Well, the whole NFL is out there losing its mind over Ashton Jeanty, and honestly, who can blame them? The guy single-handedly turned Boise State’s fortunes around, and now, with first-round NFL buzz, his world is spinning. Everyone knows Jeanty’s a Cowboys diehard, but CFB analyst Dalton Wasserman thinks the Raiders should snag him at number six. And honestly? That’s true. Jeanty’s not someone you can overlook. “If I’m the Raiders at six, let’s say maybe they sign, if it’s Russell Wilson for a year or two or Sam Darnold to like a three-year deal, right, and they want to go the veteran route at quarterback, I go. Why would Jeanty be off the board at six? I don’t think there’s any reason he should be off the board at six.”  That’s true. The Raiders need a RB as much as they need a QB. Especially after their star RBs Ameer Abdullah and Alexander Mattison are off to become free agents this season.

Here’s where things get interesting. If the Raiders snag Ashton Jeanty in the draft, Jerry Jones might be out of luck trying to find a comparable player for the Cowboys. Wasserman pointed out that many mock drafts have “him 10 to the Bears, 12 to the Cowboys is a popular spot,” but if the Raiders jump in, Jones could be left empty-handed.

The Cowboys had a tough season, finishing 7-10 and ranking 27th in rushing offense. It was clear when they let Tony Pollard walk and leaned on Rico Dowdle, who put up decent numbers (1,000 yards!) but only two rushing TDs. The stats may seem okay, but the impact is lacking. This is why Dallas needs a game-changing running back, someone like Ashton Jeanty, who scored 29 touchdowns in a single season.

The Heisman runner-up accumulated 2,601 rushing yards, scored 29 touchdowns, and made 151 missed tackles, the most by any draft prospect since 2010. He wasn’t just racking up stats; he was truly unstoppable. And to top it off, he’s a Texas native and a lifelong Cowboys fan. “I think it would be dope, a lot of great people there, a lot of talented players, it would be special, growing up in Frisco, spending a lot of time out there, I think it would be cool to have the star on my helmet again.”

However, interestingly enough, the Bears, holding the No. 10 pick—two spots ahead of the Cowboys—had all the leverage. Then, they made a surprising move for D’Andre Swift. Chicago snagged the former Eagles back with a three-year, $24 million deal, effectively taking themselves out of the running back market. This cleared a path for Jerry Jones. With Swift now in Chicago, the Bears can prioritize other needs, like offensive line and wide receiver, potentially letting Jeanty slide.

This puts the Cowboys in a prime position at No. 12 to acquire the best running back prospect in a decade. If Jerry Jones misses out on this opportunity, it won’t just be a bad call—it’ll be downright perplexing. But despite many teams rooting for him, Ashton Jeanty is not one to fall for unethical practices.

Ashton Jeanty calling out the tampering issue

Well, the craze to get this guy has reached such an extent that officials are trying to tamper with his pro-league future. Recently, Ashton Jeanty sat down with Kevin Clark for an interview to discuss his NFL Draft plans. During the conversation, Clark posed a significant question that delved into the league’s behind-the-scenes maneuvers. Jeanty was candid in his response, revealing that 10 different teams had expressed interest in him, albeit through his head coach or other intermediaries. While Jeanty provided some insight into the inner workings, he refrained from disclosing the specific teams involved.

Now, sneaking around to recruit isn’t surprising, but it’s still wrong. And Jeanty knows it. He’s always hated this kind of shady behavior, and he made his feelings clear. “It’s illegal, and it’s going on in college football and that’s the only way for guys to know a school wants them or they have a secure spot,” he said. His words packed a punch; they weren’t just about him, but a whole hidden system.

Even though it’s obvious what’s happening, teams are still bending over backwards to get him. Whether these actions cross ethical boundaries or not, one thing is undeniable: Ashton Jeanty is not your typical draft prospect; he is a player for whom teams are willing to push the boundaries.