2023 NFL Draft: 6 Prospects who made money at the Scouting Combine

6. Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia

Let’s talk about Darnell Washington’s performance at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. This guy blew everyone away with his athletic testing performance. He ran a 4.64-second 40-yard dash at 6’7” and 264 pounds! That’s insane! And his vertical jump and broad jump are no joke either.

Sure, he had a couple of drops, but with those 11-inch hands, he’s bound to be a little inconsistent. But he didn’t let that bring him down. He took some advice from the coaches and in one of the final reps, he contorted his body mid-air and snagged the ball with only one hand! It was a thing of beauty and earned him a roar from his fellow tight ends.

This guy is an absolute beast on the field and one of the most physically imposing players in college football. When he steps off the bus, the other team knows they’re in for a tough game.

Not only was he a basketball superstar in high school, but he’s also a rotational starter for the Georgia Bulldogs’ offense. And when it comes to blocking, Washington is a monster. He can drive defenders off the ball and wash them down the line of scrimmage like it’s nobody’s business. He’s a split-flow blocker on split-zone concepts and makes it easy for his team to get those easy-access passes.

But don’t think for a second that Washington can’t catch a ball. He’s a zone-beater that can find soft spots to settle into and he’s a hassle to bring down one on one in space. The UGA Bulldog can power through with a stiff-arm, and even leap over defenders. He’s a threat to generate big plays in the passing attack off of play-action.