Where will Arkansas running back Mike Washington land in the 2026 NFL draft?
Arkansas football will not have a large number of players taken at the 2026 NFL draft, but it will have a few. Running back Mike Washington Jr. leads the pack. Here's NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein on the Hogs' top NFL prospect this year:
"Washington made stops at three different colleges and showed improvement with each move to a new school. He’s fast with loose hips and adequate agility. He’s not very sudden in tight quarters and is a step slow to see it and go when the hole opens. He can glide and swerve around interior traffic once he’s on the move, though. He has breakaway speed in the open field and is capable as an inside/outside runner. Running to his size with a greater degree of aggressiveness will be the key as he makes the jump. Washington has the traits and talent to become a solid rotational back.
Strengths
- Blends imposing size with impressive straight-line speed.
- Agile feet and loose hips allow for smooth change of direction.
- Has burst to keep the run wide and beat flowing pursuit to the corner.
- Reads blocks and moves fluidly through lane development inside.
- Size allows him to run through cornerbacks in run support.
- Able to drive through tacklers and fall forward for additional yardage.
- Can do damage with big plays on swing passes.
Weaknesses
- Needs to gather steps getting into downhill cuts in outside-zone schemes.
- Can be a step slow to see the opening and trigger downhill.
- Needs to become more willful and aggressive between the tackles.
- Lacks sudden acceleration for ideal escapability in small spaces.
- Fumbles have been an issue over the last two seasons.
- Has size for pass protection but is missing consistent grit."
Zierlein gives Washington a grade of "average starter," basically a B-minus or C-plus, better than a backup but not a star. That's a foundation to build on.
Washington is rated No. 71 among 2026 NFL draft prospects by Pro Football Focus, meaning the early third round on Day 2 is his likely draft position. Not having to wait until Day 3, and -- as a result -- being a top-100 pick -- would represent a solid achievement for Washington. Now comes the important part: finding the right fit.
NFL players want to get as much up-front money as possible and therefore go as high in the draft as they can, but if they fall 10-15 spots yet land in the right situation, that small fall is more than worth it.