National Football League

2017 NFL Draft: Oklahoma State James Washington Scouting Report

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Oklahoma State’s James Washington is a wide receiver prospect who needs to be getting more 2017 NFL Draft hype.

James Washington is a big-bodied target who has a knack for making big plays down the field. He’s someone that immediately jumps off the screen because of his athleticism and ability to make acrobatic plays.

This is an aggressive receiver who doesn’t hesitate to fight through contact or use his body to box out the defensive back. It’s extremely impressive to see him adjust his body while streaking down field and dealing with contact.

Washington is the type of target where a quarterback can lob the ball up and feel confident his player will come down with the catch. At the very least, the quarterback knows that Washington will do everything in his power to keep the ball out of the defenders hands.

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His ability to produce big plays isn’t only tied to his physical play as he also features good speed. Washington is able to get just enough separation for him to run under the deep ball. He also has that unique ability to track the ball while running at full speed.

The concerns surround Washington’s game will be his route-running and ability to read coverages. Oklahoma State is one of those teams that run a wide-open spread attack where the receivers as asked to run a limited route tree.

This could slow Washington’s transition to the NFL. However, his big-play ability is something that many teams will be unable to overlook. We’ve seen young receivers utilized as deep threats as they learn how to operate in an NFL offense.

Another area where Washington could improve is his effort as a blocker. He has the size and bulk to be a solid blocker but seems uninterested.

Overall, this is a big-play receiver who has the potential to score in a hurry.

Current Draft Status: 2nd Round

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