Malik Washington

Malik Washington's collegiate success at Virginia, highlighted by a dominant 47% dominator rating and nearly 1,400 receiving yards, translated well to the NFL Combine, where he showcased exceptional athleticism, with his remarkable 42.5-inch vertical jump. Despite his smaller stature, Washington's abilities as a YAC specialist make him a valuable addition to the Dolphins' offense, especially alongside playmakers like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. With Coach Mike McDaniel's evident enthusiasm for Washington's potential, coupled with the opportunity afforded by Miami's offensive scheme and quarterback talent, Washington could outperform expectations as a Day 3 pick.

Washington is a dynamic player in the open field. He can slip tackles like a running back and has good vision in traffic. Last year, he was fifth in missed tackles forced. His low center of gravity helps with breaking arm tackles and his twitchy change of direction ability. He has an immediate burst with the ball in his hands. Washington's fluid hips allow him to uncover quickly and transition seamlessly to running after the catch. Washington was utilized in the slot in college (87.9% slot rate in 2023). He'll likely work inside at the NFL level. Washington has a good feel for finding the soft spots in zone. He was heavily utilized on screens and stop routes. Washington needs to continue to add nuance to his routes (mid-route), but he does display good footwork in his releases and bend in his routes to believe that he can continue to evolve in this area at the next level. His size can show up during this routes as he can get pushed off his line against physical corners, but he plays bigger at the catch point. He flashes good body control, snagging plenty of balls outside of his frame with adjustments to high throws and ankle biters. Dynasty Outlook: Unfortunately, the NFL didn't seem as high on Washington's skill set as I have been. He fell all the way to the sixth round before the Dolphins called his name. Washington is buried on the Miami receiving depth chart, and he'll be fighting just to make the roster for Week 1 behind Tyreek Hill, Odell Bekcham Jr., Jaylen Waddle, Braxton Berrios, River Cracraft, Braylon Sanders, and more. Washington's talent is real, and he's still worth stashing on your taxi squad this year. You can snag him in the final round of your rookie draft, but he may fall to waivers in plenty of leagues.