2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Darnell Washington

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Darnell Washington, 6-7/270 Tight End Georgia

Darnell Washington Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell

Strengths:

Phenomenal blocker

Developed blocking technique

Huge frame

Leaping ability

Red-zone weapon

Reliable hands

Soft hands

Mismatch size

Too big for safeties to cover

Dangerous at running after the catch

Breaks tackles downfield; gets yards after contact

Tough to get on the ground

Tracks the ball well

Athletic for his size

Adjusts well to the ball

Solid route-runnner

Finds the soft spots in zone coverage

Fearless in the middle of the field

Upside

Weaknesses:

Adequate speed, although not overwhelming

Good, but not great, athlete

Summary: Georgia tight end Brock Bowers was one of the best players in college football over the past two seasons, and as a result, Washington went under the radar. However at just about any other school, Washington would have been the three-down starter and a consistent receiver in the passing game. As a rotational tight end for the Bulldogs, Washington flashed receiving ability with 28 catches for 454 yards and two touchdowns. He had 10 catches for 154 yards and a score in 2021. Washington was a tremendous blocker for the Bulldogs, helping to open holes in the ground game and to protect quarterback Stetson Bennett.

As a blocker, Washington is a force and is very special. He is like an extra offensive lineman with his ability to tie up and handle defenders. He has enough size and strength that he should win his blocks at the NFL level as well. Washington gives a relentless effort and demonstrates excellent technique. His blocking should improve with pro coaching, but he enters the NFL as a plus blocker and significantly better than most tight ends in the league. Washington is going to be a real asset to help open up running lanes and protect his pro quarterback.

Washington possess mismatch potential for the passing game. With his height and length, he presents a size mismatch that makes him a valuable red-zone player. Washington does a nice job of using his frame to shield defenders from the ball and win on contested catches. He has reliable hands and is dangerous after the catch. Washington runs through tackles and picks up yards after contact downfield. In the open field, he will hurdle defensive backs, but he may want to generally avoid about that in the NFL because it will leave his body in a vulnerable state.



Washington is dangerous at working the middle seam with quickness to get to the second level. Aided by solid route-running and his feel, he does a nice job of getting open. Washington tracks the ball well, adjusts to passes well, and is a real asset in the red zone. His NFL team is going to have Washington as a main stay in the red zone through his blocking and receiving ability. With his athletic upside, Washington’s best football is in front of him because he should improve as he gains experience.

In the 2023 NFL Draft, Washington could be a first- or second-round pick.



Player Comparison: Marcedes Lewis. Washington compares well to Lewis. They are almost identical in size, and Lewis (6-6, 267) is a superb blocker. Both have some receiving ability, but they are not prolific at racking up catches. Lewis has had an extremely long NFL career, and Washington could as well because of his prolific blocking skills.

2023 NFL Draft Player Previews - Choose Player 2023 NFL Draft Player Previews - Home Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M Adetomiwa Adebawore, DE, Northwestern Jordan Addison, WR, USC Will Anderson, DE, Alabama Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE, Kansas State Steve Avila, G, TCU Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland Micah Baskerville, LB, LSU Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin Matthew Bergeron, OT, Syracuse Mekhi Blackmon, CB, USC Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU Brian Branch, S, Alabama Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson Chase Brown, RB, Illinois Sydney Brown, S, Illinois Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA Malik Cunningham, QB, Louisvile Gervon Dexter, DT, Florida Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina Max Duggan, QB, TCU Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland Zach Evans, RB, Ole Miss Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Notre Dame Isaiah Foskey, DE, Notre Dame Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon Derick Hall, OLB, Auburn Jaren Hall, QB, BYU Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma Daiyan Henley, LB, Washington State Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee Siaki Ika, DT, Baylor Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio State Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU Broderick Jones, G, Georgia Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa Will Levis, QB, Kentucky Quan Martin, CB, Illinois Cody Mauch, G, North Dakota State Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame Will McDonald, DE, Iowa State Kenny McIntosh, RB, Georgia Tanner McKee, QB, Stanford Kendre Miller, RB, TCU Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss Cam Mitchell, CB, Northwestern Malachi Moore, S, Alabama Mike Morris, DE, Michigan Wanya Morris, OT, Oklahoma Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State Zion Nelson, OT, Miami B.J. Ojulari, OLB, LSU Demarvion Overshown, LB, Texas Owen Pappoe, LB, Auburn Jarrett Patterson, C, Notre Dame Clark Phillips, CB, Utah Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas Chris Rodriguez, RB, Kentucky Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas Noah Sewell, LB, Oregon Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan Nolan Smith, DE, Georgia Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota Tyler Steen, OT, Alabama Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee Joe Tippman, C, Wisconsin O'Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida Henry To'oTo'o, LB, Alabama Tuli Tuipulotu, DE, USC D.J. Turner, CB, Michigan Lukas Van Ness, DE, Iowa Deuce Vaughn, RB, Kansas State Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia Keion White, DE, Georgia Tech Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

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