The Las Vegas Raiders spent a top-10 pick on a running back last year, but that won’t keep Mike Washington Jr. from making a big impact as a rookie in 2026.
Sure, Ashton Jeanty will still be the starter for new head coach/play-caller Klint Kubiak, but Washington has already proven through his first two preseason games that he’s too talented to keep off the field.
Watching his college tape at Arkansas, Washington’s impressive physical traits were obvious. His combination of size, speed and physicality jumped off the screen, and he backed up the film by lighting up the track at the NFL Scouting Combine, running a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at 6-1, 223 pounds.
That’s why, despite spending the No. 6 overall pick on Jeanty just a year ago, the Raiders grabbed Washington in the fourth round back in April, making their offensive backfield deeper and stronger behind rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
The early returns have been promising from Washington, who has busted a pair of big runs in the preseason, one in each of the Raiders’ first two games. This one Thursday night against the Houston Texans showed off all of Washington’s physical tools, as well as the patience and motor to keep the play alive until finding daylight for a huge gain:
Washington finished Thursday night’s game with 56 yards rushing on just nine carries (6.2 yards per attempt), adding 18 more yards through the air on a pair of receptions.
That kind of skill set and production will be tough for the Raiders to keep off the field, and Kubiak’s tenure in Seattle proves he’s more than willing to deploy multiple playmakers in the backfield. Kenneth Walker III was his lead back with the Seahawks, but Zach Charbonnet still had a big role in the offense. It won’t be surprising if we see a similar situation in Vegas, with Jeanty handling Walker’s role as the No. 1 option, while Washington serves as a change-of-pace back who still sees a ton of action.
Taking that approach would maximize the talent and upside both backs bring to the table, while keeping them as fresh and healthy as possible all year long. Both backs have the potential to make an impact both on the ground and through the air, which should allow them to be somewhat interchangeable, regardless of formation or situation.
This is still a rebuilding team that’s more than a year away from being a legit playoff contender, so this season is all about laying the foundation for future success. Washington could be a key cog in that process, making the entire offense stronger with his complete skill set and big-play ability, and giving Kubiak a valuable building block for the future.
