With kickoff only two weeks out, the conversation around Washington’s roster is already turning toward the future, and one name keeps rising to the top: OT John Mills.
Mills has the kind of early résumé that gets NFL people paying attention fast. As a Freshman All American, he already has plenty of film for pro scouts to study, and Pro Football Focus has him sitting on its Top 10 Sophomores list.
PFF’s praise was blunt: “Mills generated the highest grade of any freshman lineman to play more than 300 snaps last season.” If he keeps building on that debut, the path ahead is obvious - more postseason recognition, maybe an All American nod, and eventually a chance to hear his name called early in the draft.
The biggest question for any offensive lineman is simple: can he stay healthy? If Mills does, the projection is easy to understand. He looks like the kind of player who could go in the first or second round and spend a long time in the NFL.
QB Demond Williams Jr. is in the mix too, and his name is popping up all over preseason watch lists for good reason. One mock draft even has him going in the third round to Seattle.
The concern is his size - at 5’11”, he doesn’t fit the classic NFL quarterback mold - but his dual-threat ability gives him a real shot to overcome that, much like Kyler Murray did when he went first overall in 2019. That’s not a prediction that Williams will match Murray’s draft slot, just a comparison point.
The talent is there. What he still has to clean up is decision making, and he’ll need to prove he can produce against elite defenses like Ohio State and Michigan.
If everything comes together with the right team and scheme, Williams could develop into a solid pro quarterback.
WR Dezmen Roebuck is another strong candidate. After a standout freshman season, he should see a bigger role in the passing game and more chances to put numbers on the board. He’s only a sophomore, which means there’s still plenty of room for his stock to rise, especially because NFL teams love receivers who can line up in different spots and create matchup problems.
Some projections have Roebuck’s ceiling as a Day 2 pick, including one from Scout SZN, but draft slot isn’t the whole story. The real issue is how much he develops while he’s at Washington. Based on what he already showed in year one, there’s plenty of reason to think his future is bright.
Still, the choice here comes back to Mills. He has the strongest case right now, and there’s a feeling that, if everything holds together, he could end up in the Joe Thomas or Steve Hutchinson conversation.
That all depends on his body holding up, but he already showed enough last season to build on. And while Alex McLaughlin is a player to like, this pick is about who can become great at the pro level.
Mills looks like the best bet.
In Other News...
Washingtons New-Look Roster Faces Its First Real Test Before The Opener
Before the 2026 season opener against Washington State, the Huskies will get one more live look at themselves in a mock game at Husky Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 6. Fans are invited to watch, and the setting should offer an early read on how a roster with plenty of young and new faces is coming together as the preseason reaches its final stretch.
The exercise is expected to shine a light on the position battles that have been developing behind the scenes, from the offensive line to the defense and receiver group. It will also give the staff a chance to assess player development in real time, with coverage planned throughout the day, including live updates, a postgame story, a podcast and interviews. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Just Lost Two Key Veterans At The Worst Time
A late legal turn has put Washington in a tough spot as camp approaches, with the program suddenly dealing with more uncertainty around veteran depth than it expected. The issue traces back to a previous injunction that had opened the door for certain NCAA football players from the recruiting Class of 2022 to gain a fifth year of eligibility, a ruling that looked like it could help several teams navigate roster building and experience at once.
Now the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals has stayed that injunction, and the Huskies are feeling the effect immediately. Players who filed suit in state courts can still move forward, but others are in limbo, including defensive tackle Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei and kicker Grady Gross, who are not permitted to practice with Washington while the case works through the system. With the season drawing close, there is not much time left for that picture to change. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Mock Game Put Real Pressure On A Key Huskies Battle
Husky Stadium got a real dress rehearsal Saturday, with Washington putting nearly 90 plays on the field in a public scrimmage that mixed live looks with situational work. It was the kind of afternoon that lets a staff see where the roster is before the games start carrying more weight, and Demond Williams made his case with a sharp showing in the passing game while the defense had its own moments, including Ksani Jiles taking an interception back 40 yards.
For a team getting ready to face Washington State, the bigger takeaway may be how close the Huskies are to having the full group available again. Jedd Fisch said the previously held-out players will be ready to go starting Sunday, which gives Washington a cleaner picture as it turns from scrimmage tempo to game-week prep. With rivalry week ahead, the remaining questions are less about effort than about which battles on the depth chart are going to matter most when the real lineup gets set. [Read more 🡒]