Darnell Washington Could Make Georgia Draft History

The 2023 NFL draft is quickly approaching, and a long list of former Bulldogs are anxiously waiting to see where they fall in the draft order. The NFL combine served Georgia well yet again this year as several former Bulldogs have seen their draft stock rise since their workout. One of those players is tight end Darnell Washington.

Washington is as unique as they come from a draft prospect standpoint. He carries a massive frame standing at 6-7 and 264 pounds while possessing elite athleticism. At the combine, the Georgia tight end clocked in a 4.64 in the 40-yard event and a 4.08 in the 20-yard shuttle. He finished with an athleticism score of 91 which ranked 2nd amongst all tight ends, according to NFL next gen stats.

The tight end position over the years in the NFL has become a much more prominent piece to an offense. Teams are starting to value them a lot more in the draft which is good news for a player like Washington as he hopes to hear his name be called on the first day of the draft. If he does, he would be the first Georgia tight end to be taken in the first round since Benjamin Watson in 2004, and if he is selected within the first 31 picks, he would be the highest-drafted tight end in program history.

During his three-year career at Georgia, Washington saw a lot of growth in his production. Fans quickly saw how impactful he was as an end-of-line blocker as he essentially served as an extra offensive tackle, but in his most recent season, Washington put it all together. In 2022, Washington finished with 28 receptions, 454 receiving yards, and two touchdowns, all of which were career highs for him.

NFL teams have been targeting tight ends that can really flourish in the passing game to help bring their offensive production to another level. With Washington's ability to excel in both run and passing plays though, it makes him that much more valuable as a prospect. The latest mock drafts have indicated there is a strong possibility that Washington hears his name called in the first round, which would also place him at the top of the Georgia history books.

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