The Detroit Lions need a talent injection at tight end, and they are set to have a pre-draft visit with Darnell Washington.
If the Detroit Lions have a clear No. 1 need area on the offensive side of the ball, it’s tight end. Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra are backups, and James Mitchell would have to take a heck of a leap to be a viable TE1 in his second NFL season.
According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC in Houston, Georgia tight end Darnell Washington is set to visit the Lions after he had a visit with the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday.
What stands out the most about Washington is his size, at 6-foot-7 and 264 pounds. There is a lot of projection involved with him as a pass catcher, with just 45 career catches in college. But the raw tools are there, and his 4.64 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine is a record for a tight end as big as he is.
203 NFL Draft: Could the Detroit Lions take the plunge on Darnell Washington?
A lot of analysts just can’t turn away from the idea of the Lions taking a tight end with their second first-round pick (No. 18 overall) in mock drafts. Washington is beginning to sneak into the first round in some mocks, though not necessarily to the Lions. Generally, he’s being projected between pick 25 and pick 50.
Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire/Draft Wire pointed to why he sees Washington as a tough evaluation.
"Despite testing very well at the NFL Scouting Combine, the suddenness with which Washington gets off the line or engages in blocks in space is not great. Much like Roberts, Washington often blocks stiff-legged and too upright, negating his power. He caught just 45 passes in college as a role player in the Georgia passing game and thrived as a runner after the catch, something that’s more difficult to envision at the next level."
As a blocker, practically an extra offensive lineman really even with some technical flaws in that area, Washington could be a nice fit for the Lions. And there’s no denying his physical traits and untapped upside potential as a receiver.
But if you’re going to take a tight end with a top-50 overall pick, an historically deep class at the position would seem likely to offer someone who’s more of a sure-thing than Washington. And waiting until later in the draft reduces the risk, and the difference in upside might be neglible.
But the Lions should be doing homework on tight ends in this draft. A pre-draft visit with Washington is naturally part of that.