The Las Vegas Raiders made a splash in last year's draft by selecting running back Ashton Jeanty with the sixth overall pick, but even the best backfields need a reliable sidekick. Enter the 2026 NFL Draft, where General Manager John Spytek addressed that need in the fourth round by adding a dynamic complement: former Arkansas Razorback Mike Washington Jr.

Washington turned heads at the NFL Combine with measurements that scream "playmaker." Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 223 pounds, he blazed a 4.33-second 40-yard dash and posted a 39-inch vertical jump, earning a stellar 9.90 Relative Athletic Score. Those numbers weren't just for show—they reflected a season where Washington established himself as one of college football's most explosive running backs.

His 1,066 rushing yards tell only part of the story. According to Pro Football Focus, 515 of those yards came on "breakaway" runs of 15 yards or more, ranking 14th among all FBS backs and fourth in the SEC. His 17 breakaway runs tied for 12th nationally and fourth in the conference. Simply put, every time Washington touches the ball, there's potential for a highlight reel.

Let's break down what makes him such a threat for the Raiders' offense. While Washington is known primarily for his straight-line speed—that 4.33 time is no fluke—he's not a one-trick pony. His lateral agility often goes overlooked, but game tape tells a different story.

Consider a play against a loaded box where Arkansas calls an isolation run. The defensive tackle blows past the left guard, penetrating the B-gap and setting up a potential tackle for loss. Washington doesn't panic. He hits a quick jump cut to evade the defender, then adjusts again as another blocker loses control of his man. Suddenly, he's in the open field.

That's when his speed becomes a weapon. Washington breaks multiple angles on the second level, powering through arm tackles with a blend of strength and elusiveness. It's this combination of vision, agility, and raw explosiveness that makes him a perfect complement to Jeanty—a big-play threat who can turn a routine handoff into six points.