The Case for Darnell Washington With Packers’ First-Round Pick

This is Part 3 of a series on first-round prospects for the Green Bay Packers in the 2023 NFL Draft. Georgia tight end Darnell Washington is having a predraft visit with the team.

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Mar 21, 2023 3:36 PM EDT

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Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – According to his Instagram, Georgia Bulldogs tight end Darnell Washington is in Green Bay for a predraft visit with the Packers.

Washington’s visit signals real interest by the Packers – a team that historically has used most of its 30 allotted visits on undrafted free agent recruiting and/or medical checks – to invest their first-round pick in the burly, athletic tight end.

Washington is coming off an epic Scouting Combine. Along with measuring 6-foot-6 5/8 and 264 pounds, Washington has 11-inch hands (second-largest in Combine history) and an 83 3/4-inch wingspan (largest in Combine history).

On the field, he ran his 40 in 4.64 seconds and cranked out a 4.08-second time in the 20-yard shuttle. The shuttle, a critically important result for the Packers over the years, was the fastest by any tight end prospect tipping the scales at 255-plus pounds in more than a decade.

“I feel like I'm the most unique tight end in this draft,” Washington said during his Scouting Combine media session.

That’s not even debatable.

The Packers have an enormous void at tight end. Robert Tonyan, who finished third on the team in receptions in 2022, signed with the rival Chicago Bears. Marcedes Lewis remains unsigned, Josiah Deguara is more fullback than tight end and Tyler Davis was a key player on special teams in 2022 but unproven on offense.

Washington, at least, would take care of the blocking element provided by Lewis. That was his No. 1 duty at Georgia, with teammate Brock Bowers winning the Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end in 2022 after catching 119 passes and scoring 20 touchdowns during his first two collegiate seasons.

Can he catch, though, and be an every-down player and not just a sixth offensive lineman? His highlight-reel catch at the Combine hints at the possibilities.

“They’re getting a large human being that’s a target that can block and do so many things,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said at pro day last week. “He’s done a tremendous job. He played at high 270s, even 280s. He’s a much bigger passing threat than people probably understand when he’s at 264. I think he becomes a weapon in that league. He’s such a great target and he’s hard to cover. They’re going to get a really good player on and off the field. Excited to see him do well.”

Smart said Washington could have been a bigger factor in the Bulldogs’ passing game but didn’t pout with the lack of opportunities for the back-to-back national champions.

“He’s been selfless,” Smart said. “I mean, the first play of the Kent State game he is running up and down the field literally jumping up in the air and giddy because his other tight end is running a 70-yard touchdown run. And I don’t think you find that many places, because it wasn’t about him.”

As Washington said at the Combine, “I take pride in [blocking]. I embraced it at the University of Georgia. I knew wasn’t getting 50 of 40 balls because we've got Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey. There is only one football. You can't give it to everybody.”

Darnell Washington reaches for the sky at the Scouting Combine. (Photo by Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports)

Washington listed Baltimore’s pass-catching dynamo, Mark Andrews, as one of his favorite tight ends. Another? Lewis.

“I feel like I'm only scratching the surface,” Washington said. “I feel like I'm a good blocker, but I can turn into a great blocker. I'm a good athlete (but) I feel like I can turn into a great athlete.”

At Desert Pines High School in Las Vegas, he was a five-star recruit after catching 31 passes for 586 yards (18.9 average) and four touchdowns as a senior. His body was more Calvin Johnson, at the time, he said. During his final season at Georgia, he caught 28 passes for 454 yards (16.2 average) with two of his three career touchdowns.

“I feel like I feel like I got lots of untouched talent when it comes to that area,” he said. “In high school, I was getting the ball like 60 times a season. So, going from there to coming to college, not so much in that area. So, I feel like when I tap into that potential, I feel like it's going to be crazy to see.”

It’s that potential that could have Washington climbing well into the first round of next month’s draft. He’s not the most accomplished receiver in the group. He might not be the best all-around player today. But with size, athleticism and desire, he could develop into the best player in a strong group.

“I’m a good, complete, all-around tight end,” Washington said at pro day. “One of my goals is coming into a team and making an impact, whether that be one game or helping out other players.”