Malik Washington, WR Virginia: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Washington was a three-star recruit from Parkview High School in Lilburn, Ga. in the class of 2019

Malik Washington had a breakout season after transferring from Northwestern to Virginia. The All-American slot receiver authored ten 100-yard receiving performances in 12 appearances in 2023. He projects as a fourth round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

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Malik Washington, WR Virginia: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Fifth-year slot receiver from Lawrenceville, Ga.

Background: Washington was a three-star recruit from Parkview High School in Lilburn, Ga. in the class of 2019. He was the No. 837 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 821 for On3.com. Washington was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 77 grade out of 100. He transferred from Northwestern to Virginia for the 2023 season. Washington amassed 792 receiving yards, five receiving touchdowns, 287 rushing yards, and nine rushing touchdowns as a high school senior, bringing his high school total to 29 touchdowns. He was the team MVP and the Regional Player of the Year. He produced 34 receptions for 527 yards and three scores as a junior and 41 receptions for 649 yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore. Washington also returned kicks and punts, finishing his career with 2,794 all-purpose yards. He was a First Team All-Region selection three times, a Scholar-Athlete three times, and an All-County selection twice. Washington was the 2018 Gwinnett Athlete of the Year, the 2016 Athlete of the Year, and the 2015 Gwinnett Newcomer of the Year. He helped Parkview go 10-0 and claim the 2018 Regional Championship. Washington lettered in track and field four times and won the state and national championship in the 4x100-meter relay in 2017.

Injuries & Off-Field: Did not play in four games in 2020

Awards: 2021-22 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, 2022 Third Team All-Big Ten (PFF), 2023 First Team All-ACC, 2023 Second Team All-American (Associated Press), 2023 Team Captain

Pros: Returned kicks for Virginia, some experience playing outside, speed to challenge slot defenders up the seam, manipulates the defender to establish inside leverage, quick feet to set up the defender at the top of the stem, flashes of snappy route running, initial burst to get to the third level on WR screens, mixes route tempo to sell fakes, sudden acceleration to capitalize on sold routes, lethal out-and-up, such a great actor on out-and-ups, creativity to get open when the play breaks down, excels at finding space, rarely drops the ball, natural hands catcher, ball tracking, maximizes his size at the catch point, concentration on contested catches, quick to turn and get upfield, willing to take on and absorb contact, surprising contact balance at his size, steps out of arm tackles, broke a Payton Wilson tackle on a WR screen vs. N.C. State (2023), cuts to make defenders fly by him in the open field

Cons: Limited special teams experience, likely won’t return kicks in the NFL, size, slot-only, does size limit his NFL volume, frame leads to him taking some brutal hits, short strides, lacks elite top speed, lacks elite twitch, caught from behind, benefited from schemed touches and low ADOT, questions about how he’ll handle contact near the line, separation generated is good but not great, routes are rounded sometimes, rounds the top of his corner routes, room to sharpen route running, catch radius, corners can crowd him at the catch point from off-man coverage

Overview: Washington has limited special teams experience, but he returned kicks for the Cavaliers in 2023. It seems unlikely that role will carry over to the NFL. At his size, Washington is a slot-only prospect. NFL teams will wonder if his size puts a cap on his volume as a pass catcher. Washington takes some brutal hits, and those add up over time for a player who enjoys working over the middle of the field. He has the speed to challenge slot defenders up the seam. The Northwestern transfer manipulates defenders to establish inside leverage and uses his quick feet to set up and shake the defender at the top of the stem. There are plays where Washington rounds his routes, but he also has flashes of snappy route running that generate natural separation. His initial burst with the ball in his hands on wide receiver screens carries him to the defense’s third level. Washington mixes route tempo to sell his route fakes and has the sudden acceleration to capitalize on his salesmanship. His acting on out-and-up routes consistently gets defenders to bite, leading to big plays. Washington fights to get open when the play breaks down and excels at finding space. He rarely drops the ball and is a natural hands catcher with commendable ball tracking. Despite maximizing his size at the catch point and playing with great concentration, Washington’s catch radius limits his upside in contested catch situations. He doesn’t have the elite speed, twitch, or long strides to scare defenders operating in off-man coverage. This allows off-man defenders to trigger on his short routes and crowd him at the catch point. Washington is quick to turn and get upfield once the ball is in his hands. He is willing to take on and absorb contact over the middle of the field and has surprising contact balance. He steps out of arm tackles and even broke a Payton Wilson tackle attempt on a wide receiver screen in 2023. Washington is elusive and cuts to make defenders fly past him in the open field. He benefited from schemed touches and a low average depth of target in 2023. The Georgia native lacks home run speed and is caught from behind on long plays. His size will lead to concerns about press coverage and contact near the line of scrimmage. Washington generates good but not great separation. There is room for the All-American to sharpen his routes and create more natural separation.

Overall, Washington’s size will be a limiting factor in the NFL, but his ball skills, contact balance, and savvy route salesmanship give him undeniable upside as a slot receiver. Players with Washington’s size rarely go in the top 100, but the fifth-year receiver has the tape to warrant a fourth round pick from a team looking to round out its receiver room.

Role & Scheme Fit: Slot receiver (Y) in an 11 personnel dominant scheme

Round Projection: Fourth Round

Size: 5'8", 194 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 12-30-23