For the foremost portion, the wide receivers who get the foremost consideration are the huge, athletic folks — the ones who will likely be lining up out wide as a classic “X” collector.
In any case, we’ve seen another breed of recipient make waves in later a long time. Players who do not physically overwhelm guards but their briskness and dexterity makes them exceptionally troublesome to cover. The Unused York Monsters have had extraordinary victory with players like Victor Cruz, Sterling Shepard, and presently Wan’Dale Robinson — all of whom are from that form.
Virginia collector Malik Washington is another collector in that shape, and he may discover himself rising up sheets over the course of the 2024 draft handle.
Washington begun his career at Northwestern, but never got numerous openings much obliged to their run-first offense and by and large destitute quarterback play. He exchanged to Virginia earlier to the 2023 season and whereas the circumstance still wasn’t awesome, he had a breakout year scoring 110 catches for 1,426 yards and 9 touchdowns.
What does he bring to the table?
Prospect:
Malik Washington (4)
Recreations Observed:
vs. Penn State (2022 – with Northwestern), vs. Wisconsin (2022 – with Northwestern), vs. Tennessee (2023 – with Virginia), vs. North Carolina (2023)
Measurables
Stature:
5-foot-9
Weight:
194 pounds
Qualities
Briskness
Nimbleness
Run after capture
Ball abilities
Competitive durability
Malik Washington could be a compact, fast, and spry space getting prospect.
Washington has extraordinary short-area speed and his naturally low center of gravity permits him to create exceptionally sharp cuts whereas carrying his speed. He too has shockingly great ball aptitudes for a pass catcher who didn’t get numerous opportunities until exchanging. Washington does a great work of finding the ball within the discuss, making alterations, and amplifying to maximize his capture span. He has great body control to bend and make troublesome catches, as well as delicate, common hands.
Washington fundamentally played out of the opening at both Northwestern and Virginia, and he is at his best when put in position to choose up yardage after the capture. Not as it were was he utilized in concepts planned to make division with strongly breaking courses, he was too conspired touches as a ball carrier on clears. Washington has good vision as a ball carrier, permitting him to utilize his briskness and sturdiness to choose up yards after the capture.
He is additionally an awfully experienced blocker much appreciated to his time at Northwestern. Northwestern’s run-heavy scheme regularly inquired Washington to piece on the border and he built up himself as both willing and able. He does a great work of getting into position rapidly, as well as battling to keep up his squares.
Washington has involvement as a returner, and his vision and briskness ought to grant him upside in that region.
Shortcomings
Size
Play quality
Long speed
Course differing qualities
Groups will likely have concerns with respect to Washington’s estimate. Whereas he has satisfactory thickness at 194 pounds, he’s unquestionably brief for a recipient (indeed a opening collector) at 5-foot-9, which appears up in his tape.
Washington’s need of length limits his capture span and greater corners can play around him without much trouble. Likewise, indeed when he maximizes his capture span, it’s still restricted compared to longer wideouts. Washington can too battle against tight scope and can have issues making partition in near quarters against bigger, stronger cornerbacks. His measure can too work against him when blocking. Washington has common use, but he doesn’t have much mass and his length can be difficult for him to induce to defenders’ chest plates.
Washington is additionally best depicted as “quicker than fast” as an competitor and doesn’t have the long speed to threaten down the field or run away from defenders within the open field. His course running is additionally a bit under-developed at this point in his career. Washington generally played absent from the ball at Northwestern, either utilized on clear-out courses or as a blocker, and his course tree is restricted.
