'Untapped Potential': Cowboys Meet Freaky Georgia TE Darnell Washington; NFL Draft
Judging by the decision to let Dalton Schultz walk this offseason, the Dallas Cowboys have no shortage of confidence in Peyton Hendershot and Jake Ferguson to fill the void in the offense at tight end.
Despite having a 'young Travis Kelce' in Ferguson, according to Travis himself, the Cowboys have nevertheless brought in some top tight end prospects for their top-30 NFL Draft visits. And the latest is Georgia's Darnell Washington.
With the No. 26 overall pick, Washington could certainly be a prospect that Dallas is looking to select. And judging by his visit, they are certainly interested in the 6-foot-7, 280-pound prospect. ... who on Dane Brugler's top 100 players list sees Washington at No. 29, with Brugler noting that he's "the leanest 280 pounds you'll ever see on a football field.''
As Brugler notes, Washington's skillset represents "untapped potential'' as it did not show up on the stat sheet, with him recording 45 receptions for 774 yards and three touchdowns over three seasons with the Bulldogs.
For two of those years, he was outshined by Brock Bowers, a dynamic playmaker who resembles Travis Kelce with his receiving ability. While Bowers got much of the acclaim, and rightfully so, Washington was still an integral piece to their offense.
Washington's frame and strength made him a top-tier blocker in the run game, essentially giving the Bulldogs a third offensive tackle on the field. But he didn't just help out in the running game, as he was also frequently asked to match up with defensive ends in one-on-one situations as a pass protector.
Washington doesn't come out of college with the type of production that other top tight ends have in the class, like Dalton Kincade or Michael Mayer.
Washington's ability as a pass-catcher was truly "underutilized" at Georgia. Still, when it was used, he showed flashes, whether as a target in the red zone that quarterbacks can throw it up to or even a playmaker in the middle of the field whose a handful to bring down.
It is up for debate on where tight end stands on the Cowboys' list of needs, but what isn't debatable is the ability and potential excitement Washington would bring to the offense.
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