The Las Vegas Raiders added to their running back group on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting former Arkansas Razorbacks standout Mike Washington Jr. with the 122nd overall pick in the fourth round.
Las Vegas already has Ashton Jeanty, a Top 10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Still, first-year head coach Klint Kubiak appears to be building toward a two-back system similar to the one he used with the Seattle Seahawks, where Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet shared the workload.
On April 28, Jeanty shared his thoughts on Washington coming in to help him with the workload this upcoming 2026 NFL season.
“I feel good about Mike Washington,” Jeanty said during a livestream on his YouTube channel. “I think our run styles will definitely complement each other. I’m excited for when he gets in the building. We can build this rushing attack and do something special.”
In his rookie season with the Raiders, Jeanty posted a 70.4 overall PFF grade, ranking 34th out of 55 qualified running backs. His rushing grade of 73.1 also placed him 34th in that group.
He handled 266 carries for 975 yards and 5 touchdowns, averaging 3.7 yards per attempt on the ground. Jeanty also showed some physicality, forcing 61 missed tackles and averaging 3.1 yards after contact per rush.
As a receiver, he added another dimension with 55 catches on 68 targets for 346 yards and five touchdowns.
Mike Washington Jr. Sends Message to Raiders’ Ashton Jeanty
After the Raiders made the pick, Washington spoke with the local media in Vegas and shared his thoughts on being Jeanty’s partner in the running game this upcoming 2026 season.
“I’m super excited to get rolling with him,” Washington said on April 25. “All I could think of is thunder and lightning, so I’m super excited to be the one-two punch with him and to really, like I said before, be a sponge and learn from him at the same time.”
Washington finished the 2025 season with a 78.3 overall PFF grade, ranking 127th out of 406 qualified running backs. In the run game, he posted an 84.3 rushing grade, which placed him 76th among rushers.
Moreover, he logged 167 carries for 1,066 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 6.4 yards per rush. Washington also showed an ability to create on his own, forcing 34 missed tackles and averaging 3.9 yards after contact per attempt, highlighting his effectiveness running through contact.
As a receiver, he added another layer to his game, hauling in 28 catches on 36 targets for 226 yards and one touchdown.
Keyron Crawford Excited About Playing With Maxx Crosby
Washington isn’t the only draft pick eager to play alongside a player on the Raiders. On Day 2, the Silver and Black decided to bolster their defensive line with the No. 74 pick in the third round by drafting former Auburn Tigers star Keyron Crawford.
Following the Raiders’ selection of Crawford, the 22-year-old spoke with the media and shared his thoughts on playing alongside Crosby on the team’s defensive line.
“Maxx is definitely one of my favorite players just because of how he attacks the field and how he carries himself,” Crawford told reporters on April 24. “I can’t lie, I’m going to pick apart everything about him.
“It’s about taking that and translating it to my game, my routine and my schedule, and trying to be the best person as well. Being able to learn from him at a young age is important, but at the same time, I still want to surpass him. If I can’t do that, I’d definitely love to play alongside him on the other edge.”
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