Cowboys Country

The Next Gronk? Scouting Cowboys NFL Draft Prospect Darnell Washington

Is Georgia Bulldogs Gronk-esque tight end Darnell Washington a fit for the Dallas Cowboys in this year's NFL Draft?

Isaiah DeAnda Delgado

In this story:

As the NFL offseason continues to near its most prestigious event, the 2023 Draft, the Dallas Cowboys have frequently been tied to tight end prospects. And the sleeping giant in this class is Georgia's "freaky'' Darnell Washington. 

Proudly claiming the nickname "The Six Lineman" on his social media accounts, Washington displays an unusual body type, athletic gifts and power as a blocker maybe unexcelled in combination by any of his draft contemporaries.

While many social media "draft experts" are quick to throw comparisons of Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce on players like Utah's Dalton Kincaid ... or go with ex-Dallas Cowboys legend Jason Witten being the forerunner to Notre Dame's Michael Mayer, Washington played a different role at Georgia.

Over the past two years, Georgia's passing game has been funneled through sophomore tight end Brock Bowers, one of the top receivers in the country, regardless of position. But it's his less-praised partner, Washington, who exceled at the dirty work.

Washington bullies defenders in the run game, a skillset that helped make fellow big-bodied tight end Rob Gronkowski feared by defenders outside his ability to catch passes. 

Washington's performance in sled drills at the NFL Combine created a buzz. And though known for being a mauler in the trenches, scouts think Washington has the potential to be just as elite as a receiver and maybe fill the void left in the Cowboys' offense due to Dalton Schultz's free-agency departure to the Houston Texans.

One measurement makes him nearly identical to Gronkowski in size at 6-7 and weighing 264 pounds. But astute media scout Dane Brugler has Washington at 280 ... and as a mismatch against most defenders in the passing game. He wasn't asked to receive much due to Georgia's offense featuring Bowers, but he still flashed his hands. 

With the second-largest hands [11 inches] ever measured on a tight end in Combine history, the longest wingspan ever measured by a tight end [83.75 inches], as well as a longer broad jump [10 feet 2 inches], and a faster official 40-yard dash time [4.64 seconds] than Kincaid or Mayer, Washington's upside is higher than any other tight end in this draft. 

If Dallas decides to go tight end in the first round of this year's draft, perhaps the Cowboys should focus on lassoing the unicorn out of Georgia ... with a plan in the Dak Prescott-led offense to unleash that upside.

You can follow Isaiah DeAnda Delgado on Twitter and Instagram @IsaiahDDelgado.

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Dallas Cowboys?

Follow FishSports on Twitter

Follow Cowboys / Fish on Facebook

Subscribe to the Cowboys Fish Report on YouTube for constant daily Cowboys live reports!

Published
Isaiah DeAnda Delgado
ISAIAH DEANDA DELGADO

Home/News