A year after taking Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 overall pick, Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek went back to the running back position and drafted Arkansas’ Mike Washington in the fourth round.
The Raiders traded up for the second time in the fourth round Saturday as they sent the Atlanta Falcons the No. 134 pick (fourth round) and No. 208 pick (sixth round) for the No. 122 to draft Washington.
Washington now joins Jeanty in the Raiders’ backfield.
The Raiders have needed a second running
back all offseason. It was expected they would sign one n free agency but it never happened. they did visit with veteran Najee Harris, who is coming off a major injury.
New Las Vegas head coach Klint Kubiak used two running backs for the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks as their offensive coordinator last season. He has said having two running backs is vital to him.
In Washington, Kubiak gets a big, fast compliment to Jeanty. He is 6-1, 223 pounds and runs a 4.3 40-yard dash. He is a home run hitter who gives the Raiders’ offense a nice wrinkle as a second tailback.
