Former Georgia tight end Darnell Washington is next up on our scouting report series ahead of the 2023 NFL draft.
The mammoth tight end out of Georgia has a physically-imposing build that towers above damn near everyone on the football field.
Washington measures in at 6-foot-7 inches and weighs 264 pounds, and he knows how to use his size to his advantage out on the football field.
Despite not producing eye-popping numbers, the Las Vegas native was an integral part of Georgia’s back-to-back championships over the last two seasons.
This article is going to provide you with an educated opinion on the pros and cons of selecting the big-bodied tight end. But before we get started, a quick reminder that unless noted otherwise, all of the grades and individual rankings that are included are my own opinions.
Washington is a popular player amongst the Titans’ fanbase, and for good reason. Let’s find out why.
Measurables
- Height: 6’7”
- Weight: 264 pounds
- Arm length: 34 3/8”
- Hand size: 11”
- 40 time: 4.64
- Relative Athletic Score: 9.88
College Accolades
- Second-Team All-SEC (2022)
- 2-time National Champion (2021-2022)
- 28 Career starts (2020-2022)
2022 Stats
- Receptions: 28
- Yards: 454
- Touchdowns: 2
- Run-blocking snaps: 373
- Pass-blocking snaps: 32
- Yards per route run: 1.77
- Drop rate: 6.7 percent
- Contested catch rate: 40.0 percent
Grades, Projections and Rankings
- Overall grade: 80.1 (first round)
- Ceiling projection: Late first
- Floor projection: Late second
- Position rank: No. 3
- Consensus rank: No. 3
Reasons to Buy In
- Physical specimen who finished with the second highest RAS at his position.
- Has a uniquely-massive frame blended with brute-force power and explosive athleticism.
- Powerful and dominant run-blocker at the point of attack who can easily displace defenders against their will.
- Offers a ton of positional versatility (inline, H-back, fullback, etc.).
- Scheme-versatile blocker who has tons of experience with performing zone and gap concepts.
- Red-zone target who has the type of catch radius that quarterbacks often love to target once they’re in the condensed area of the field.
- A true mismatch off the play-action pass due to his combination of being too fast for most linebackers, and too big for most defensive backs.
- Has incredible body control for someone his size, which allows him to adjust to errant throws in contested-catch situations.
Areas of Concern
- Not the most technically-sound prospect in the class, and he probably won’t ever be.
- Bends his waist at the point of attack instead of bending his knees and rolling his hips through contact.
- Reliant on being the most physically-superior player on the field.
- Has a limited route tree at his disposal.
- Very stiff when he’s asked to break off his routes.
- Needs to be much more consistent with his hand usage/placement.
- Telegraphs a lot of his routes whenever he’s forced to make sudden movements.
- Must be more calculated with his risks instead of being reckless in how he attacks the opposition.
- There are far too many cases of him trying to go for the kill shot instead of making the smart play/block.
Fit with the Titans
Washington would be a perfect fit for a Titans offense that doesn’t hide their intentions to pound the rock.
The Georgia product is essentially a sixth offensive lineman whenever he is on the field. Washington is dominant at the point of attack, where he easily displaces defenders against their will.
His height ultimately makes it difficult for him to play with proper pad level, but what he lacks in technique he makes up for with brute force and high effort.
Washington is a true tone-setter for the entire offense regardless of where he lines up.
Whether you have him down-blocking on the line, pulling across the formation, lead-blocking as an H-back, blocking in space, etc., Washington constantly makes his presence felt whenever he’s allowed to get physical with the opposition.
The former Bulldog is also versatile and experienced enough to thrive in any scheme. Last season alone, he accounted for 167 gap-blocking snaps and 168 zone-blocking snaps, receiving an impressive run-blocking grade of 81.3, per Pro Football Focus.
The mammoth tight end provides sneaky upside as a pass-catcher as well. Unfortunately for him, he was in the same tight end room as someone like Brock Bowers, so he was never going to be the team’s primary pass-catching tight end.
Nevertheless, he consistently did well with the opportunities he was given. Truthfully, that’s exactly what you want from him if the Titans draft the Georgia product.
In no way, shape, or form should he be stealing pass-catching snaps away from Chigoziem Okonkwo in 2023.
However, Washington would undoubtedly add a ton of value to a run-heavy Titans offense that is likely to operate with Derrick Henry as the featured weapon.
Washington could also be a real asset to a play-action attack that forces defenses to think on its feet. He is explosive enough to get behind overly-aggressive linebackers, while also having the size to box out smaller defensive backs once he gets to his spot.
He isn’t the smoothest route-runner in the world, but he excels in the vertical game that doesn’t force him to change directions quickly.
Washington becomes a real problem for the defense once the ball is in his hands. He has the strength to bounce off wimpy tacklers, and the athleticism to make a big play once he has a full head of steam.
Lastly, Washington would give the Titans another big-bodied playmaker who possesses a massive catch radius in the red zone.
It may take some time for the former Georgia tight end to maximize his full potential in the passing game, but you’d have to imagine he would instantly become an impact blocker in Tennessee’s run game upon his arrival.
The real question is: do the Titans value that enough to spend a premium pick on Washington? Only time will tell.
