Darnell Washington fills a massive TE need for the Packers at pick 45
Both Marcedes Lewis and Robert Tonyan could be gone in the 2023 season and that leaves Josiah Deguara as the only tight end on the Green Bay roster as of right now for the upcoming campaign. That’s something the team will obviously address in free agency as well given the ever-present need for depth at the position, but taking a big early swing in the draft would make sense too.
Swings don’t get much bigger at tight end than Darnell Washington out of Georgia. That’s not to say he’s a hit-or-miss type of player — it’s to say that he’s a mammoth human being.
Clocking in at a massive 6-foot-7, 265 pounds, people shouldn’t move the way that Washington does at his size while still retaining the level of physicality and power that he does. That’s where he’ll be a winner right away in the NFL too. He’s the best blocking tight end in the draft class who can make an immediate impact as a run blocker as essentially a sixth offensive line in base one-tight end sets for an offense.
More than that, though, he’s a shockingly good route-runner who simply wasn’t used all that often in the Georgia passing attack simply because of the other weapons available and the style of play. But he can get open well and can also win in contested situations thanks to his size. Moreover, his size and attributes make him a nightmare to cover in the red zone.
Washington isn’t perfect but he’s a freak with his size and athleticism and someone who could be an asset for the Pack right away with room to be even more dangerous as he becomes utilized more as a receiving weapon.