The NFL draft season always brings a mix of excitement and speculation, and this year, the buzz around Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty is getting real. The New Orleans Saints, now under the direction of Kellen Moore, might just be eyeing him as their next offensive weapon. If they pull the trigger on this move, it could seriously shake things up in their backfield.

Jeanty’s name has been making waves, with analysts like Joe DeLeone and Ryan Roberts hyping him up as a top-tier talent. DeLeone even said, “I think that he could rival what Christian McCaffrey‘s done for the 49ers and for the Carolina Panthers.” That’s some high praise. Roberts compared him to Mark Ingram, but with even more receiving ability, he said he could be a 1,200-yard rusher who also racks up 50+ catches a season. Basically, a dual-threat nightmare for defenses.

And it’s not just talk—Jeanty’s stats are straight-up video game numbers. My guy led the entire nation last season with 2,601 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns, averaging almost 186 yards per game. Oh, and he was runner-up for the Heisman, so yeah, he’s him. If you’re looking for a first-round lock, Jeanty is that guy.

Everyone around him knows he’s built differently. His coach, Spencer Danielson, says he’s a workhorse, and his family and teammates are all hyped to see him go pro. Scouts are even saying he could crack the top 10, and honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised. Keep an eye on Jeanty—he’s about to light up the league.

Kellen Moore’s stamp of approval for the Saints ‘future star’

Saints head coach Kellen Moore is seriously high on Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty. Even before he landed the job in New Orleans, he was hyping the dude up, saying, “He’s going to have a huge impact on this league.” And now, with the ninth overall pick, the Saints might actually have a shot at making that happen.

Moore didn’t just throw out some basic praise—he broke it down. He called Jeanty a “complete package” who can run, catch, and make plays anywhere on the field. In his sophomore season alone, Jeanty put up 43 catches for 569 yards and five touchdowns on top of his 2,600 rushing yards. Moore also raved about his vision, patience, and burst, basically saying this guy has all the tools to be a problem in the NFL.

But why does Jeanty make so much sense for the Saints? Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski believes it’s about fit, not just familiarity. While Moore’s Boise State connection is obvious, Sobleski sees Jeanty thriving behind New Orleans’ young. Run-blocking tackles Taliese Fuaga and Trevor Penning. With Alvin Kamara struggling to stay healthy, adding Jeanty could be a long-term investment in the Saints’ ground game. If Kamara plays out his current deal, Jeanty could seamlessly take over as the focal point of the offense in a few years. If Saints HC Kellen Moore poaches him, history can be written once again.

The only question? Positional value. Running backs have been a tricky sell in the top 10. But recent success stories like Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs prove the right talent is worth the pick. With the NFL trending back toward strong rushing attacks. And Moore’s own history with Saquon Barkley, selecting Ashton Jeanty at ninth overall wouldn’t just be reasonable. It could be a franchise-altering move.