Summary

Darnell Washington was selected in the 3rd Round (#93 Overall) in the 2023 Draft out of University of Georgia. Washington is a rare physical specimen at the tight end position: 6′7″ with long arms, strong blocking chops, and enough athletic ability to create matchup problems. His biggest strengths lie in his size, red‑zone threat, blocking prowess and mismatch potential. His main limitations today are a less refined receiving game, average lateral agility/route‑running, and limited college production in the pass game. In the right scheme — one that values his blocking while gradually feeding him more targets — he has the tools to become a standout.

Strengths

• Elite size + catch radius: Darnell Washington’s physical measurements give him a significant mismatch advantage: at 6′7″ with long arms and a large frame, he is very difficult for defenders to cover in one‑on‑one situations, especially in the red zone. Yardbarker

• Blocking ability and physicality: He’s not just a receiving threat: he excelled as a blocker in college, showing strength and willingness to engage in the run game.

• Athleticism for his size: For a man his size, Washington displayed surprisingly good movement ability: able to line up detached, run seam or shallow crossers, and show burst after the catch. Bleacher Report

• Mismatch threat and red‑zone value: His size, length, and catching ability in traffic make him a strong 50/50 ball target, particularly near the goal line or in tight‑window situations.

Weaknesses

• Route‑running and separation issues: While his size and straight‑line ability are assets, he struggles with more nuanced movements: his lateral quickness, change of direction, and release off the line have been flagged as average for his position. He can be “sluggish” in getting into his route stem and lacks a full route tree.

• Limited receiving production and experience: At Georgia, Washington’s receiving stats were modest (e.g., only 28 catches for 454 yards in his 2022 season) largely because he split time and played behind Brock Bowers. NFL Draft Buzz

• Explosiveness and top‑end speed: Though athletic for his size, he does not possess elite sprint speed or the separation burst that certain receiving TEs have. Some profiles label his speed and burst as “adequate, but not overwhelming.” NFL Draft Buzz

• Technical refinement in blocking and inline work: While physically strong, his technique at times has been inconsistent: pad level, hand placement, and leverage were cited as areas needing improvement when facing NFL‑caliber interior defensive linemen. Hogs Haven

Fit & Outlook

Washington projects as a heavy‑package or two‑tight end set contributor — particularly valuable in blocking‑rich schemes, play‑action passes, and red zone usage. His blocking ability gives him early value, while his receiving upside can grow. Long‑term ceiling: If he refines his route‑running, improves separation, and expands his receiving volume, he has the upside to become a three‑down tight end with both blocking and receiving skills at a high level. Key development areas include enhancing footwork, improving agility and release against press coverage, adding nuance to his route tree, and refining blocking technique vs elite defenders will separate him from being a “blocking specialist” to being a full featured TE.