Washington impresses scouts
The speed of Oklahoma State wide receiver James Washington has heads turning at the Senior Bowl.
James Washington is fast. Oklahoma State fans and Big 12 defensive backs knew this already, but many NFL scouts and media in Mobile, Alabama, for Saturday’s Senior Bowl are getting their first in-person glimpse of Washington’s speed. And they love it. Not only do they love it, but they love how smooth he looks when he runs past some of the best defensive backs in this year’s NFL Draft pool.
“While he did have a drop on a low throw against air, he won the vast majority of his matchups and was uncoverable down the field,” CBS Sports NFL Draft writer Chris Trapasso wrote. “He has an extra gear unlike any other wideout at this year’s Senior Bowl.”
With Zebra Technology monitoring a wide variety of analytics from the Senior Bowl practices the last few days, Washington was the fastest player on the field.
The reigning Biletnikoff Award winner was clocked at 21.25 mph during Tuesday’s practice. For comparison, Nex-Gen Stats says the fastest ball carrier in any NFL game this season was Leonard Fournette at 22.05 mph.
“James Washington is roasting these corners. They can’t handle him on vertical routes,” Jonah Tuls of NDT Scouting posted on Twitter Tuesday.
On Wednesday, he added simply, “James Washington, first round receiver.”
It’s not just his speed that is impressing onlookers this week. His good hands, plus the ability to make contested catches, and be physical with defensive backs have been lauded in his reviews.
“Easily the best receiver here,” Joe Everett of NFL Draft Bible wrote. “One of the best players at this event. Washington has amazing body control/ rare balance to maintain his position while locating the football (and) snagging it with urgency.”
Interviews between prospects and NFL teams were scheduled for Thursday evening, but Washington had already held informal meetings with Dallas and Denver, according to reports.
Washington measured in at 5-feet, 10 ⅞ inches, the second-shortest receiver at the game. But his other measurements compared well with the rest of the group.
His hand measurement of 9⅝ inches was bigger than all but one other receiver, including OSU teammate Marcell Ateman, who came in at 6-foot-4 ¼ with a hand measurement of 9 inches.
Washington’s arm length of 33⅞ inches was also second-longest among receivers at the game and his wingspan of
77¾ inches was in the middle of the pack.
Along with his height, the only other major question scouts had about Washington was his ability to run a wider variety of routes than what was asked of him at OSU.
Some were concerned he was simply a speed machine who could only run deep routes, but it looks like Washington put those concerns to bed, too.
“He’s been uncoverable so far,” wrote Jeff Essary of SB Nation’s Denver Broncos site. “He shows incredible burst off the line and smoothness out of his breaks. His route running is far superior to anyone else here, and his speed and hands kill DBs on deep routes. This guy should be a first-round lock after this week.”