Day 2 of the NFL Draft is officially in the books, though the lack of running backs selected – just Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price, and Kaelon Black – has been jarring. Despite the consensus knowing the 2026 class lacked at running back, many still expected star Arkansas ball-carrier Mike Washington Jr. to be off the board before Day 3 of the draft started; however, he’s still available, but why?
Why Hasn’t Mike Washington Jr. Been Selected yet?
Washington Jr. is PFSN’s #5 running back with a prospect score of 83.9 according to our NFL Draft HQ, and has an overall ranking of 93, meaning our analysts projected him as a late-third round pick.
It’s not completely out of this world that Washington Jr. is still available, as many thought there could be a notable drop-off between when the Fighting Irish duo of Love and Price would be selected and when the next group of running backs would get taken.
Insight from PFSN’s scouting report on him can help explain his slight drop, quoting, “Washington Jr.’s size and burst come at the cost of high-end short-area agility and hip fluidity, and he must improve his ball security at the next level.”
At 6’1 and 223 pounds, he definitely projects more as a power back, which is different from what some front offices prefer. More often than not, the smaller, shifty back has more big-play potential, along with greater passing-game versatility and longevity, because they look to elude contact rather than embrace it. It’s also worth noting that he has struggled with fumbles in his career.
Still, Washington Jr. was one of the most efficient runners in the nation, going for 1,070 yards and 8 touchdowns on a whopping 6.4 yards per carry in his last season at Arkansas. This included five 100+ yard rushing games, leading PFSN to give him an impact score of 88.6 on PFSN’s CFB RB Impact Metric, good enough for 10th in the nation.
Our scouting report noted, “He’s also a competent pass-catcher with RAC chops on swings and screens, and he holds up his end as a pass protector. In the immediate timeline, Washington projects as a physical rotational RB and sparkplug, but has scheme-diverse starter and volume upside with his build, burst, footwork, and intangibles.”
He could be a solid fit for anyone looking to complement a smaller starting back with someone with a more physical profile, such as the Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, or Denver Broncos.
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On PFSN analyst Ian Cunningham’s latest mock draft for Day 3, he has projected the Houston Texans selecting Washington with the 117th overall pick.
Regardless, don’t expect Washington Jr. to be on the board for too long on Day 3. Whoever secures him will get a significant addition to their running back room.
