March 29, 2026, 10:09 a.m. ET

After trading away David Montgomery, the need for a RB shot up in priority for the Lions. Mike Washington might be the ideal replacement given his size and speed. However, the Lions may not be able to wait past the 2nd round to get him.

Here is the excerpt of my medical report on Mike Washington:

(Ages in parentheses are at start of 2026 season and are factored into the concern level. Injury info and ages based on available public information are unverified and subject to update. Games played data courtesy of sports-reference.com.)

Mike Washington, RB (23) – Arkansas

Projected round 2-3. Ran 4.33 40-yard dash at combine, #1 among RB’s. Measurements: 6’ 1”, 223 lb.

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Concern level 1/10

2025: 12/12 games2024: 12/12 games2023: 11/12 games2022: 13/13 games2021: 3 games

You want big? But you also want fast? Washington might be your guy. He also appears to be medically clean as I found no reports of any injuries. He’s slightly older than ideal, but looks like a very low-risk prospect.

His lighting fast 40-time might mean the Lions would need to use their 2nd-round pick on him. That might be too rich for a team that has more pressing needs like OL, EDGE, and safety. But getting a long-term David Montgomery size/speed replacement might be worth it.

He finished college with 587 carries for 2914 yards (5.0 Y/A).

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