Malik Washington OUT vs Jacksonville; Quad Injury

Washington was a 6th-round pick in this previous year’s draft out of Virginia for Miami. His draft profile coming out of college reads as below.

Overview

Performed as a heavily targeted slot receiver in his single season at Virginia after transferring from Northwestern. Washington’s catch total is filled with a high number of quick-game throws and short out routes that allowed him to use his contact balance to stack plenty of tough yards after the catch. Washington possesses premium catch focus, buttery smooth hands and mature ball skills, but he needs to prove he can elude press and run an NFL route tree with better attention to detail. Washington maximizes his skill set to make up for his average size and he should garner attention as a gadget guy with the potential to develop into a WR4 or eventual starter in the slot.

Strengths

• Eye-catching production, posting 100-plus yards in 10 of his final 11 games.
• Instincts and feel for the position jump off the tape.
• Plays with rare focus and calm in the face of traffic and imminent contact.
• Soft hands greet the football away from his frame with quick pluck and tuck.
• Loose upper body and late hands allow him to make catches outside of his frame.
• Works back to throws and scrambles open when needed for his quarterback.
• Built like a running back and breaks tackles like a RB after the catch.

Weaknesses

• Ran basic route tree and scheme helped free him for heavy target load.
• Doesn’t use much route savvy to make his separation work easier.
• Getting away from a committed press defender could be a challenge.
• Plays with conservative stride length and reduced speed in routes underneath.