How real is the Seahawks' interest in Arkansas RB Mike Washington Jr.?

· Yahoo Sports

Arkansas running back Mike Washington Jr. confirmed his Top 30 visit with the Seattle Seahawks on Monday.

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In an interview with Seahawks Wire’s own Justin Melo for NFL Draft On SI, he said the Seahawks were his final in person visit before the draft gets underway this week.

Washington has been a popular projected pick for the Seahawks since the NFL Combine. Hype broke out after his athletic testing painted a picture of an extremely high-ceiling for an RB prospect. Since Kenneth Walker left for the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency, Seattle is expected to draft another highly ranked prospect at the position to replace the Super Bowl MVP as the lead back in their offense. With measurables like this, Washington has a leg up in key indicators of potential on other Day 2 RBs to be a primary target for that situation.

Washington’s speed and explosiveness make him one of the favorites to replace Walker’s big-play ability. His size suggests he’ll be able to hold up as an NFL lead back for a plenty of carries as well. However, if that were the entire picture, he wouldn’t sit around into the late second-round. There are certain concerns that make it more likely he’ll even sit around til the Seahawks’ No. 64 pick or later.

First off, he struggled to take care of the football in college. He fumbled 10 times over the course of the last three seasons, and three times in just 14 games in 2025. He’s also a poor pass protector. Those are two keys to a modern, Shanahan-style offense, and part of the reason Zach Charbonnet received just as many snaps as Walker for most of the 2025 season. John Schneider consistently mentions he values those skills above other, flashier athletic traits, too.

There’s a chance the Seahawks don’t draft a running back at all, going with the less “exciting” in-house options rather than replacing Walker’s home-run hitting style. Considering their track record and Schneider’s recent comments on the radio, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. If they do want that extra offensive weapon, Washington has a high likelihood of becoming a Seahawk this weekend.

This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: How real is the Seahawks' interest in Arkansas RB Mike Washington Jr.?

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