Scout's analysis: Strengths, weaknesses of Georgia TE Darnell Washington

Drae Harris played collegiately at California and worked in NFL scouting departments for the Cardinals, Chiefs and Browns. (Go here for all Harris' scouting reports.)

Darnell Washington is a 6-foot-7, 270-pound tight end who just completed his true junior season. He started 27 of 36 games played en route to back-to-back College Football Playoff championships the past two seasons.

Strengths: Washington is a good athlete who combines excellent size and straight-line speed. He is heavy at the point of attack and can overwhelm diminutive defenders as a play-side run blocker. He's athletic enough to get the backside cut off in the run game. 

In the passing game, his athleticism affords him the ability to align detached from the formation. He excels between the numbers and is a matchup problem on seam routes. He uses his excellent length and huge hands in red zone and 50/50 ball situations to pluck the football while securing the catch.  

Weaknesses: Although he has good inline power as a run blocker, he would generate more vertical movement if his hips were a little more flexible. He doesn’t bend exceptionally well, and this is accentuated when he’s inline. 

Although he has good straight-line speed, he is an average lateral mover and has average overall body quickness. He may also have a limited route tree in the NFL. When defenders get hands on him early, he needs to become more nuanced and learn creative ways to separate at the top of the route.  

Conclusion: Washington is your prototypical “Y” tight end with a good athletic profile and played for a winning program in the SEC. Although he has some limitations, all of the aforementioned should work in his favor on draft day. 

All things considered, including the positional value of tight ends, I think acquiring him in the second round is still good value for this player. There will be a good amount of projection with him, as he was essentially a backup to Brock Bowers in his final season. However, he projects as someone with good upside due to his size, length and athletic profile.  

What others say: ESPN's Mel Kiper says, “There absolutely could be a run on [tight ends] in the 20s. The tight end group as a whole is spectacular at the top, but Washington might have the highest ceiling.” 

ESPN's Todd McShay says, “Washington has excellent physical traits. He displays a massive catch radius and can come down with tough catches in traffic. And with good speed for his size and plenty of physicality to his game. He also shows a good feel for locating soft spots in zone.” 

Player comp: Former NFL tight end Leonard Pope (2006-12, Cardinals Chiefs, Steelers)

Round prediction: Second