All articles tagged with #running back
Arkansas RB Mike Washington Jr. ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, the fastest by a running back since 2024, drawing tears of joy and highlighting a 2025 season with 1,070 rushing yards and strong testing that could lift his draft stock.
At the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, Arkansas running back Mike Washington ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash—the best among backs—triggering an emotional moment as he reflected on his journey. Washington posted career highs of 1,070 rushing yards and eight touchdowns in 2025 after transferring to Arkansas, and scouts view him as a fast, capable rotational back with room to improve in tight quarters; his performance keeps him in the draft conversation alongside Jeremiyah Love.
Jeremiyah Love posted a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, the second-fastest among running backs in a historic five-RB group that also included Arkansas’ Mike Washington Jr. (4.33). Love rushed for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns on 199 carries for Notre Dame this season, and his speed could boost his draft stock ahead of April.
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love will run the 40-yard dash and take part in position drills at the NFL Scouting Combine to showcase his speed, receiving, blocking and three-down versatility; in three seasons he rushed for 2,882 yards and 36 touchdowns on 433 carries and added 63 receptions for 594 yards, with potential to be a top-10 draft pick.
Seattle has about $61.8M in cap space and must decide whether to re-sign Kenneth Walker III, their Super Bowl MVP, or pursue Breece Hall, a younger, more versatile back projected to cost around $41M over four years. Hall could provide a bigger upgrade as an every-down back and pass-catcher, while Walker may fetch more elsewhere; if Seattle wants a leap, Hall becomes the logical target in free agency.
The Kansas City Chiefs hoped to upgrade their running game by signing free-agent Breece Hall, but Jets GM Darren Mougey indicated Hall will stay with the Jets next season (likely via extension or franchise tag), forcing the Chiefs to pivot to other options like Kenneth Walker III, Travis Etienne, or the Notre Dame prospect Jeremiyah Love, each with trade-offs across cost, fit, or draft need.
Bleacher Report spotlights five under-the-radar 2026 NFL free agents—Kenneth Gainwell (RB), Christian Kirk (WR), Greg Dulcich (TE), Arnold Ebiketie (EDGE), and Greg Newsome II (CB)—who could become valuable, affordable signings: Gainwell posted a 1,023-yard-from-scrimmage season with 8 TDs in 2025 and could land a cheap deal, Kirk is expected to rebound with a market around $5.4M/year, Dulcich has shown efficiency and is projected around $1M/year, Ebiketie carries about a $9M/year valuation, and Newsome II is also pegged near $9M/year with potential to regain elite form; teams could snag starting-caliber players without breaking the bank in 2026.
Jets running back Breece Hall says his 2025 production—1,065 rushing yards on 243 carries—will justify his next contract, whether with the Jets via a transition/franchise tag or with another team, as he focuses on the present and lets his agent handle negotiations.
Running back Javonte Williams agreed to a three-year, $24 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys, including $16 million guaranteed, returning to Dallas after a one-year stint with the club. Williams posted career highs in rushing attempts (252), yards (1,201) and rushing TDs (11) in 2025, plus 35 receptions for 137 yards, and the move could influence ongoing talks to keep wide receiver George Pickens on the Cowboys long-term.
The piece catalogs 25 veteran players who could be released to juice the NFL free-agent market, spanning quarterbacks like Tagovailoa, Cousins, Smith, and Carr, plus impact players at running back, wide receiver, tight end, and on defense. With several teams facing tight salary caps, many of these cuts could come via post-June 1 designations to maximize cap relief, signaling a potential surge in veteran signings as the league year nears and clubs reset payroll.
Kenneth Walker III became the first running back in 28 years to win a Super Bowl MVP, guiding the Seattle Seahawks to a victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60.
Prosper (Texas) Walnut Grove RB Cam Newton, one of the top 2026 backs available, committed to Colorado after a weekend visit—the Buffaloes were the first Power Five program to offer him. At 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, Newton posted 2,007 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns as a junior in 2024, and followed with 2,402 rushing yards, 388 receiving yards and 44 total TDs in 2025 for a 12-1 Walnut Grove team. He is unranked as a prospect and is not related to former NFL MVP Cam Newton. Colorado’s 2026 class is already sizable, bolstered by 40+ portal additions and plans to bring in close to 60 newcomers this offseason via high school, junior college and transfer signees.
The Denver Broncos signed running back Cody Schrader to their practice squad after previously claiming and waiving him; Schrader has limited NFL experience but had a strong college career with 1,627 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns.
The Los Angeles Chargers signed running back Jaret Patterson from the practice squad to the active roster and added Royce Freeman to the practice squad, as Patterson brings NFL experience and college accolades to the team.
The Kansas City Chiefs attempted to acquire Jets running back Breece Hall before the NFL trade deadline but failed to reach an agreement, as the Jets sought a third-round pick and the Chiefs only offered a fourth-round pick, leading to the deal's collapse.