Raiders draft: Running backs who can complement Ashton Jeanty

This upcoming 2026 draft is an opportune time to add a complementary option to their top pick in last year’s excursion. I’ll be focusing on mid- to late-round prospects that can operate in the zone blocking scheme Kubiak and his offensive line coach Rick Dennison are installing in Las Vegas. An example of a more heralded prospect not on the list is Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price, who has the patience, anticipation, and vision to excel as a zone runner. He’s projected to be a a fringe first-round/second-round talent.

So let’s get right to it:

Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas

• Draft projection: Third Round.
• 2025 Stats: 12 games, 167 carries, 1,070 yards, 8 touchdowns; 28 receptions, 226 yards, 1 touchdown

Well built at 6-foot-1 and 223 pounds, this tailback started his collegiate career with Buffalo (MAC) in 2021 before landing with New Mexico State (CUSA) in 2024 and finally Arkansas (SEC) this past season. And at each stop, Washington showed progression including a standout final year against SEC competition. With a blend of size and speed (4.33-second 40-yard dash time at the NFL combine), Washington smoothly glides around traffic and has the breakaway speed in the open field to take it to the house.

Comfortable and capable running inside or outside, Washington reads blocks well, moves fluidly behind them, and is able to drive through tacklers and fall forwards for more yardage. A coaching staff that gets Washington to consistently play his size — with the ball in his hands and in pass protection — gets a size/speed prospect that can handle carries and be an excellent rotational option.

Jonah Coleman, Washington

• Draft projection: Fourth Round
• 2025 Stats: 12 games, 156 carries, 758 yards, 15 touchdowns; 31 receptions, 354 yards, 2 touchdowns

Compact but sturdy at 5-foot-8 and 220 pounds, this running back showcased a supreme nose for the end zone in his senior season for the Huskies with 17 total end zone visits in 2025. Coleman will remind folks a bit of Jeanty as both have low center of gravity, are slippery when you try to tackle them, and are able to play all three downs due to blocking ability.

In fact, that’s one of the endearing traits of Coleman as he as an innate understanding of note only blocking schemes he’ll run behind, but he takes pride in pass protection duties as a running back. Patient and allowing blocks to develop in front of him, Coleman may not have the breakaway speed, but he has the burst to be a chain mover and bruiser alongside being a reliable pass catcher out of the backfield.

Nicholas Singleton, Penn State

• Draft projection: Fourth Round
• 2025 Stats: 12 games, 549 yards, 13 touchdowns; 24 receptions, 219 yards, 1 touchdown

A size/speed prospect at 6-feet, 219 pounds, halfback exploded onto the scene with an impressive freshman campaign in 2022 (1,061 yards, 12 touchdowns, on 156 carries) but had a flat senior year to close out his collegiate career in 2025. While he did find the end zone 14 total times, the same explosiveness that was present in years prior was rare in 2025.

He’ll remind Raider Nation a lot of former Raiders running back Justin Fargas in terms of speed, power, and reckless abandon running style as he’s a straight-forward downhill runner who plays like he has no brakes quickly accelerating and careening towards the opposition. A dangerous receiver out of the backfield, Singleton has the ability to play all three downs in the pros.

Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest

• Draft projection: Fifth Round.
• 2025 Stats: 12 games, 179 carries, 907 yards, 10 touchdowns; 28 receptions, 140 yards

A tried and true change-of-pace back who brings electric acceleration and speed (4.37-second 40-yard dash time at the combine), Claiborne is an elusive scatback who can turn nothing into something. Standing 5-foot-10 and 188 pounds, this Demon Deacon displays the patience and urgency to operate in a zone scheme and can plant and cut instantly to maximize chunks gains.

Claiborne’s penchant to go off script looking for additional yardage may drive coaches mad — especially if that doesn’t produce yardage — but when he’s right, it produces unexpected explosive chunk gains. Because of Claiborne’s explosiveness and speed, he’d be an ample change-of-pace option to provide the lightning to Jeanty’s thunder in Las Vegas.

Kaelon Black, Indiana

• Draft projection: Sixth Round
• 2025 Stats: 16 games, 186 carries, 1,040 yards, 10 touchdowns; 4 receptions, 36 yards

This Hoosiers halfback saved his best for last with an ultra-productive senior season that helped Indiana become the top team in all of college football in 2025. A tackle-breaking, fall-forward type running back that doesn’t have off-the-charts elusiveness or speed, Black will get what’s blocked and has good size (5-foot-9 and 208 pounds) with requisite aggression to be a chain mover.

More of a grinder — a tailback who gets better over the course of a game as carries increase — Black does have the willingness for pass protection but needs technique refinement, as will his receiving chops. Used more in the passing game at James Madison from 2022-23 (44 catches for 431 yards and six touchdowns), Black was rarely an option for Indiana’s passing game (eight total receptions for 42 yards from 2024-25).