Could Darnell Washington be the first tight end selected in 2023 NFL Draft?

The Georgia Bulldogs have another player from their national championship team declare for the 2023 NFL Draft

Last year, the Georgia Bulldogs set the record for most players selected in a single NFL Draft with 15. It wouldn’t be surprising for them to once again approach that number after their undefeated season and winning their second consecutive national championship.

One player who almost certainly will be drafted, and likely won’t have to wait too long for his name to be called is Darnell Washington. The former Georgia Bulldogs tight end officially announced for the 2023 NFL Draft, according to ESPN’s Jordan Reid.

In three seasons at Georgia, Washington had 45 receptions, 774 receiving yards, and three receiving touchdowns. The best game he had this past season came against Mississippi State where he caught five passes for 60 yards and a touchdown.

Could Darnell Washington be the first tight end selected in the 2023 NFL Draft?

While the stats may not jump out, this could have just been due to the offense he plays in at Georgia. This team typically relied on the run game and opportunities were limited for Washington.

With that said there is a lot to like about this tight end. He is one of the more physical tight ends in this year’s class at 6’7″ and 265 pounds which he uses well to be a blocker in the run game. However, he is a reliable pass catcher and has good speed that allows him to put pressure on opposing defenses.

Entering this draft season, Washington probably is slotted behind Notre Dame’s Michael Mayers but if he performs well at Scouting Combine and his Pro Day, there is a good chance that he could close that gap. It wouldn’t be overly surprising to see Washington be the first player at his position to have his name called, although he likely would be a Day 2 selection.