The Las Vegas Raiders bolstered their backfield on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft, taking former Arkansas standout Mike Washington Jr. with the No. 122 overall pick in the fourth round.
Las Vegas already features Ashton Jeanty, a top-10 selection in 2025, but first-year head coach Klint Kubiak seems to be shaping a two-back approach. It mirrors the setup he used with the Seattle Seahawks last season, where Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet split carries.
With Day 1 of rookie minicamps in the books, Washington appeared on the May 1 edition of “Upon Further Review” and shared the mindset going into his rookie season as the Raiders expect him to be RB2 behind Jeanty.
“Honestly, it’s about giving [Jeanty] respect and just being a sponge in that environment,” Washington said. “That’s my biggest strength, really, just being willing to learn from everybody around me. So I’d say that’s the main thing for me: Just taking it all in and showing respect while I do it.”
Moreover, Washington spoke about what type of runs the Raiders will see the best of him when he’s rushing with the ball.
“Outside zone schemes, inside zone schemes, and any type of gap or zone scheme,” Washington added. “I feel like I could excel at those. Beyond that, anything they want me to do, I am willing to do.”
Mike Washington Excited to Play Alongside Ashton Jeanty
After the Raiders drafted him, 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.
Ashton Jeanty Gets Blunt About Raiders’ Mike Washington Jr.
Meanwhile, 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.
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