James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State: 2018 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Oklahoma State’s James Washington headlines a 2018 Wide Receiver Class lacking in bonafide star-power.
James Washington has made a living at Oklahoma State as Mason Rudolph’s number one target. Washington amassed 4,472 yards in his career at Oklahoma State, enough to make him the school’s all-time receiving yards leader.
Washington totaled three 1,000 yard seasons and racked up 39 Td’s during his collegiate career
Washington’s production his senior year (1,549 yards 13 TD’s) earned him the 2017 Biletnikoff for college football’s best receiver and 1st team All-American honors. Washington’s production has generated a lot of buzz in his draft stock going into the 2018 draft.
Measurables
Height: 6’0
Weight: 205
Positives
Washington’s bread and butter in college was the deep ball. A good move-set at the line of scrimmage and deceptive speed allowed him to be close to unguardable one on one and allowed him to make big plays down the field. His ability to track the ball in the air and catch in stride are excellent and well documented.
Washington is capable with the ball in his hands. His stocky frame allows for good balance, and he shows above-average elusiveness in the open field. He runs tight routes that allow him to get open and demonstrate superb hands that enable him to win at the point of catch.
Washington is able to catch through contact consistently and doesn’t shy away from oncoming defenders, displayed in the video below.
Great deep ball to James Washington for the score. 38 yards off play action. pic.twitter.com/jB5rXZSUwD
— Ian Valentino (@NFLDraftStudy) November 18, 2017
Negatives
Washington’s size is a little small for a prototypical number one target in the NFL, and he isn’t built like a lot of wide receivers in the NFL with a much more stocky, low to the ground frame.
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Washington’s athleticism will test average at the combine. He has 4.4 – 4.5 speed, but it takes him a while to build up to that and will make it tougher for him to create separation at the next level.
Despite the immense production, Washington’s numbers are a bit boosted due to the offense he runs at Oklahoma State. NFL teams will ask the former Cowboy to run more complex routes and display his ability to make defenders miss in the open field, as opposed to mainly running streak routes.
All in all, James Washington possesses the skills and traits to be a reliable receiver in the NFL. He has a high ceiling, and I project him as a late-first, early-second round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, and will get a chance to make an impact year one.