The Cincinnati Bengals could end up using a first-round pick on a tight end this year. The need is obvious with Hayden Hurst, Drew Sample and Mitchell Wilcox all free agents.
What isn’t obvious is which prospect the Bengals might actually take.
There are plenty of intriguing options with possible first-round values. Michael Mayer out of Notre Dame. Dalton Kindcaid out of Utah. Even Luke Musgrave out of Oregon State.
And then there’s Georgia’s Darnell Washington.
Washington has always seemed like a likely first-round value, but the idea he’s more of a blocker than weapon sort of left him out of the conversation for Bengals fans.
But not anymore — not after a stunning showing at the combine.
Here’s a look at the sudden hype around Washington and how Bengals fans reacted to his outburst.
OH MY, DARNELL WASHINGTON.
WHAT A CATCH. @GeorgiaFootball
📺: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
📱: Stream on NFL+ pic.twitter.com/OYN4vaJ4a3— NFL (@NFL) March 5, 2023
Darnell Washington pushing the sled then other TEs for reference. 😳
Some GM is gonna get an extra OL who is also fast and can catch. pic.twitter.com/lIU20evvxV
— Jon Tweets Sports (@jontweetssports) March 5, 2023
Darnell Washington TE1?
— Lindsay Patterson (@LndsPatterson) March 4, 2023
If they take a TE at 28, Darnell Washington is my top preference. https://t.co/w6T0cZUIv4
— Vance Meek (@vancemeek) March 5, 2023
Hard for me to say because I don’t watch many corners, but that Maryland guy did pretty good
Darnell Washington might be the only TE I’d take in the first round
And I like Adebawore, Tuipulotu, Mazi Smith, Bryan Bresee and Felix Anudike-Uzomah as the DL
— Draft Guy Jared (@DraftGuyJared) March 5, 2023
Georgia tight end Darnell Washington ran an official 4.64-second 40-yard dash at the 2023 NFL Combine, the 4th-fastest by any TE weighing 260+ lbs at the combine since 2003.
Washington recorded a 10'2" broad jump, the 2nd-longest of any TE to meet that size threshold since 2003. pic.twitter.com/Ix35am4U1R
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 5, 2023
Darnell Washington is a TE prospect in the 2023 draft class. He scored a 9.90 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 11 out of 1020 TE from 1987 to 2023. https://t.co/nuPxNPNuDU #RAS pic.twitter.com/lhXwQE9qtg
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 5, 2023
Some Bengals fans in the replies of every tweet about Darnell Washington have me cracking up:
“He’s not worth a first round pick, I’d take him in the second.”
– and –
“No chance he’ll be there at 28.”
That’s how you KNOW we’re in the heat of draft season!
— Willie Lutz (@willie_lutz) March 4, 2023
Imagine Darnell Washington lead blocking for Ja’Marr Chase on jet sweeps pic.twitter.com/rzXoFw68j4
— Willie Lutz (@willie_lutz) March 4, 2023
I think Darnell Washington had a better shot of being drafted before pick 28 than he does of falling to 60
— Mike (@bengals_sans) February 28, 2023
I know im late but is it to late to jump on the Darnell Washington bandwagon? #RuleTheJungle
— Just Eric (@JUSTERIC__) March 5, 2023
You can advocate for the Bengals to draft Darnell Washington without trying to tear down Michael Mayer and vice versa.
Both are insanely talented prospects.
— x-The Nati King (@thenatiking) March 5, 2023
I would like to see the Bengals draft Darnell Washington.
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) March 5, 2023
I’ve been advocating for Darnell Washington to be a bengal since September, not too late for some to hop on the bandwagon. pic.twitter.com/DDVuIJtz7S
— EA (@KOLD740) March 4, 2023
my brain tells me TE would be a bad idea but i’m just getting that same feeling as i did with ja’marr. something special brewing with darnell washington
— #1 Bengals Fan (@whodeyaccess) March 5, 2023
This is what a 1st round TE looks like #TE1
What’s the best fit for Darnell Washington?
Bengals at 28 makes the most sense pic.twitter.com/Ze2YfQE6XM
— RanDynasty (@ran_dynasty) March 1, 2023
Trade up for Darnell Washington
Idgaf you get him at all costs pic.twitter.com/ad7UU3Mp6P
— Just Another Bengals Fan (@JustaBengalsFan) March 5, 2023
Darnell Washington as the third option in the Bengals offense in 2024 would be brutal to prep for and super effective imo.
— Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) March 5, 2023
