The Las Vegas Raiders bolstered their running back room on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft after taking former Arkansas Razorbacks star Mike Washington Jr. in the fourth round, 122nd overall.
Las Vegas has Ashton Jeanty, whom they took in the Top 10 of the 2025 NFL Draft. Nonetheless, it’s clear that new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak wants a dual running attack to mirror what he had with the Seattle Seahawks in Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet.
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 to Play 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.”
Raiders Receive Praise for Offseason Moves
Crawford and Washington are part of the Raiders’ rebuild, which is garnering praise from one national media host, who sees similarities to the Chicago Bears’ rebuild that led to a playoff appearance during the 2025 season.
FS1 host Colin Cowherd gave praise to the Silver and Black for the moves that the team has made this offseason.
“It’s inexcusable what Cleveland, the Jets, Arizona, and Tennessee have become, and for the record, the Raiders have been in that group, but I think their GM is super sharp,” Cowherd said on the April 24 edition of “The Herd.” “I watched that draft [on April 23], and I’m like, this is the Chicago Bears model.
“They get Ben Johnson, they fix the O-line, they’ve got their quarterback, and they just add some elements to make Fernando Mendoza’s or Caleb Williams’ job easier. So the Raiders get an offensive coach. They’ve got their quarterback.”
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