Darnell Washington NFL Draft Overview
Position: Tight End
Height: 6’7″
Weight: 265
School: Georgia
2023 NFL Draft Profiles
2023 NFL Draft: Darnell Washington Scouting Report
College football fans have seen Washington on the field for years and wondered how a person can get this big. Washington was a five-star athlete coming out of High School and was a dual sport athlete in football and basketball. His production was limited due to playing on an absolutely loaded team, with Brock Bowers chewing up most of the pass-catching as a tight end. When considering that Washington is also a better blocker than most NFL offensive tackles already, it’s easy to see why his counting stats don’t match up.
During his three seasons at Georgia, Washington played in 27 games. He recorded 45 receptions for 774 yards and three touchdowns. His highlight reel plays are top-tier, but he didn’t get the ball often because he was too busy Michael Oher’ing guys into the stands. If he gets added to the right offense, NFL defenders need to watch out.
On the Darnell Washington scouting report, it needs to be noted that he is a physical outlier. For fans that watched the 2023 NFL Combine, Washington made the other tight-end prospects look tiny. There is a specific clip where he pushes a sled that the other players struggled to move more than a couple yards. Basically, Washington threw the poor thing out of the gym in three steps. His wingspan of over 83 inches broke the combine record. In fact, that’s about the same wingspan of some of the largest bald eagles in America.
Strengths
- Laughably good run blocker
- Equally powerful when pass blocking (allowed zero pressures)
- Mismatch for any position in coverage
- Underrated short area quickness for his size
- Inspires fear with the ball in his hands
- Inspires fear as a lead blocker (SEC defenders actively ran out of bounds to avoid him)
- Catches a football like it’s a tennis ball
Weaknesses
- Not a focal point at Georgia
- A lot of projection at the next level
- A little hot-headed finishing blocks, mean streak could lead to penalties
- No breakaway speed
- Work in progress as a route runner
- Relies on size rather than jumping or separation in pass game
NFL Comparison: Rob Gronkowski
Team Fits: New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers
Bottom Line on Darnell Washington
If there is nothing else to take away from the scouting report, Washington is a special prospect. His grinding, physical run blocking is an asset to any team. When paired with his unique physical traits, pass-catching ability, and fun-to-watch factor, he can elevate a team from good to great from an often-overlooked position. His ceiling is truly comparable to Rob Gronkowski, with similar sizes and athleticism, Washington is actually even faster than Gronk ever was. His floor is also safely high, with the worst-case scenario being a top-tier blocking tight end. In Sports Events Guide most recent mock draft, Washington slides in nicely to Detroit. Wherever he ends up, he is a difference-maker at the position and should be an early fan favorite.
Darnell Washington Dynasty
This draft class could revitalize the tight-end position for fantasy. In most analysts’ eyes, there are three to four top-end options at the position, and Washington has arguably the highest ceiling out of all of them. I recently went on the FFRPG Podcast hosted by Corey Bittner and we agree, Washington’s stock is going up. If he lands in one of the team fits listed above, he could easily be worth an early second-round rookie pick. Maybe even a late first in tight end premium leagues. In a loaded tight end class, Washington is my tight end one.
Main Image: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
