Darnell Washington Complete NFL Draft Profile (Georgia TE's Massive Frame Brings Well-Deserved Hype)
Updated:
Georgia's Darnell Washington is one of the top tight end prospects ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. He won't be one of the earlier selections at the event, but he does have the tools to be an everyday player one day, making him someone who'll likely hear his name called out.
Here's everything you need to know about Darnell Washington heading into the 2023 NFL Draft.
Darnell Washington Draft Stock & Mock Draft Projections
Mock Draft
Team
Round
Overall Pick
Walter Football
Buffalo Bills
2
59
Sporting News
Tennessee Titans
2
41
Draft Tek
Buffalo Bills
1
27
Pro Football Network
Green Bay Packers
3
78
ESPN
Green Bay Packers
2
45
Mel Kiper
New Orleans Saints
2
40
Todd McShay
New Orleans Saints
2
40
Mock draft sources accurate as of 4/13: Walter Football, Sporting News, Draft Tek, Pro Football Network, ESPN, Mel Kiper, Todd McShay.
Projected Draft Round: Round 2 (5), Round 1 (1), Round 3 (1)
Projected Team: Bills (2), Packers (2), Saints (2), Titans (1)
Darnell Washington Scouting Report
Although he didn't impress much in his freshman season, Darnell Washington improved with each passing year at Georgia. Suiting up for a career-high 15 games last season, the behemoth tight end finished with personal bests in receptions (28), receiving yards (454) and touchdown catches (2).
With a 6-foot-7, 264-pound frame, Washington's physical makeup is one of his top assets. Not only does it give him a huge catch radius, but it also makes him one of the best blockers in the entire 2023 draft. Whether it's in pass protection or the run game, there's no doubt that Washington's presence will give any NFL squad a boost.
Washington does have some weaknesses, though. His speed is far from impressive, giving him trouble when it comes to creating separation. He also averaged only 15 catches per season with the Bulldogs, so it isn't like scouts are 100% sure of what he can do with the ball in his hands.
Darnell Washington NFL Draft Prediction
Darnell Washington is an interesting name to watch. While there's no doubting his sheer size, a lack of offensive opportunities in college has many questioning exactly what his upside looks like. While he could break out and become a reliable pass-catcher, he could end up somewhere that sees him as more of a blocking TE.
Like a few of the experts, I think the Buffalo Bills are a great fit for the budding tight end. For starters, they have one of the NFL's most dynamic offenses and quarterback Josh Allen would love a target with Washington's size. While the Bills already have Dawson Knox, it doesn't hurt to have a two-headed monster at the position.
The Bills also racked up the eighth-most rushing yards in the league last season, so they'd certainly find a role for Washington as a blocker. A first-round selection seems too high given the questions about how his game will translate to the NFL, making Washington more of a Day 2 pick.
Prediction: Buffalo Bills (Round 2, 59th overall)
Check out more NFL Draft content from The Duel:
Darnell Washington NFL Combine Results
Drill/Measurement
Result
Height
6'7"
Weight
264 lbs
Arm Length
34 3/8"
Wingspan
-
Hand Size
11"
40-Yard Dash
4.64
Bench Press
21 reps
Broad Jump
10' 2"
Vertical Jump
31"
20-Yard Shuttle
4.08
3-Cone
-
Darnell Washington Georgia Stats
Year
School
Games
Receptions
Receiving Yards
Receiving TDs
Yards Per Reception
2020
Georgia
4
7
166
0
23.7
2021
Georgia
8
10
154
1
15.4
2022
Georgia
15
28
454
2
16.2
Darnell Washington Georgia Highlights
Devon Platana is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Devon Platana also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username PepeSilvia0. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.