Washington Wows as Packers Search for Tight End at Scouting Combine

The Green Bay Packers need a tight end and Georgia’s Darnell Washington stole the show at the Scouting Combine on Saturday.

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Mar 4, 2023 10:00 PM EST

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Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – At Georgia, Darnell Washington was the equivalent of a sixth offensive lineman. But is he athletic enough and can he catch the ball well enough to be an every-down player for a tight end-hungry team like the Green Bay Packers?

Yes and, apparently, yes.

In an impressive group of tight ends, Washington stood among the tallest on Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium.

As if measuring 6-foot-6 5/8 – let’s just round up to 6-foot-7 – and 264 pounds wasn’t enough, Washington has 11-inch hands and an 83 3/4-inch wingspan. That’s the largest wingspan and second-largest hands for any tight end in Combine history.

OK, so Washington is a big man. But can he run?

Washington ran his 40 in 4.65 seconds.

OK, but how about something other than a straight line?

Washington’s 20-yard shuttle – a favorite drill of Packers scouts – was 4.08 seconds. As noted by The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, over the last 10 years, only four tight ends/fullbacks produced a faster shuttle time. None were over 255 pounds, though.

Fine, but can he catch?

Yes, and here is the evidence.

“I feel like I'm the most unique tight end in this draft,” Washington said on Friday.

He wasn’t exaggerating.

“I wouldn't say the best. I'm very humble,” he continued. “I feel like I'm only scratching the surface. I feel like I'm a good block, but I can turn into a great blocker. I'm a good athlete. I feel like I can turn into a great athlete.”

Entering the Combine, the questions surrounding Washington’s ability to contribute in the passing game were well-founded. With the Bulldogs, he caught seven passes in 2020, 10 in 2021 and 28 in 2022. With Mackey Award-winning tight end Brock Bowers catching 56 passes in 2021 and 63 in 2022, there just weren’t many opportunities for Washington to show his all-around skill-set.

That made the Scouting Combine a big opportunity for Washington to show his hands.

“Growing up, I wasn't as big weight-wise, so I was looking like Calvin Johnson,” Washington said.

He mentioned two tight ends he likes watching. One is Baltimore Ravens star Mark Andrews, one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the NFL. The other is Green Bay Packers veteran Marcedes Lewis, the 38-year-old who is one of the best blockers in the business.

“I take pride in it,” he said of his 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.”

Washington entered the week viewed as a solid second-round option. With athleticism and intriguing potential as a receiver put on display in Indianapolis, he’s worked his way into the first-round conversation, a scout said.

Lewis and teammate Robert Tonyan are scheduled to hit free agency, making tight end a major need for Green Bay.

“I feel like I have lots of untouched talent when it comes to that area,” Washington said of being a receiver. “In high school, I was getting the ball 60 times a season. From that, coming to college and not so much in that area. When I tap into that potential, that’s going to be crazy to see.”

Washington, a five-star recruit who had to learn how to block once he got to Georgia, is driven by his young daughter.

“One thing that helped me improve is having a family at a young age, so I had to mature to get used to everyday life,” Washington told Dawg Nation in 2022. “The focal aspect is going against older guys with how mature they are. When we’re at practice we have fun, but at a high school practice, you’re on the sidelines not paying attention, joking around. Here if you’re joking around on the sideline Kirby will get on you.”