Mike Washington Jr.

The Player

Washington is an ascending back with a rare blend of size, burst, and speed, and he’s coming off a breakout season at Arkansas. He posted the fastest 40 and 10-yard split times among running backs at the combine, and while he doesn’t always look like he has 4.3-second 40 speed on tape, he averaged 6.4 yards per carry in 2025 and is a threat to go whenever he gets a seam. He’s a patient runner who hugs blocks and makes late cuts, and he has an outstanding start-stop ability, especially for a back of his size. He freezes defenders with hesitation moves and accelerates once they are caught flat-footed. He quickly reaches the edge on outside zone runs. 

He runs with a narrow base but can break tackles with good contact balance. He’s strong enough to lower his shoulder, run over defenders in space, and push the pile when he doesn’t get a seam. He is a high-cut runner with some tightness in his hips, and he tries to make too much happen on occasion. He’s fumbled seven times in the past two seasons, though he’s lost only two of them, according to PFF.

He’s not a polished route runner, but he can separate with quickness and is a threat after the catch. He has long arms and a wide catching radius. He’s not yet consistently reliable as a pass blocker, but he has the frame and length to improve in this area. He gets top-heavy and flat-footed and needs to improve his angles. He can be late identifying blitzes. He played for Buffalo for three seasons and New Mexico State for one before making a 2025 transfer to

Arkansas, where he had the best season of his career.

The Draft

Washington is a top-five back and a top-100 overall prospect in this class. An Arkansas running back hasn’t been drafted since 2018. 

The Projection

It’s difficult to find a good comparison for Washington’s size and speed. His game has shades of Kenneth Walker III; they are both powerful runners with great speed, and there were also concerns about Walker’s pass blocking coming out of college.