A’Mauri Washington has been one of the biggest risers in the 2026 NFL draft class this fall as he’s lived in opponents’ backfields this season.
Listed at 6’3″, 330 pounds, he has plenty of strength and power to be a good run defender, but what separates Washington is the impressive quickness and athleticism he’s shown for his size. The Oregon product was listed as the fourth-best athlete on Bruce Feldman’s list this summer.
Washington arrived to the Ducks program as a 4-star recruit in the 2023 class and played sparingly as a true freshman.
In year two, he was behind Derrick Harmon (Steelers’ first-round pick), Jordan Burch (Cardinals’ third-round pick) and Jamaree Caldwell (Chargers’ third-round pick). The Detroit, Michigan native rotated behind those three and had just 10 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and two passes defended in that season.
However, 2025 has been his breakout campaign.
Matt Holder has been a part of B/R’s Scouting Department for four seasons. He also writes about the Las Vegas Raiders and NFL draft for SB Nation’s Silver and Black Pride, and co-hosts a YouTube Channel, Tape Don’t Lie, providing film breakdowns and more draft prospect analysis.
