HEIGHT: 5'9"

WEIGHT: 191

HAND: 9¼"

ARM: 30⅜"

WINGSPAN: 72⅞"

40-YARD DASH: 4.47

3-CONE: N/A

SHUTTLE: N/A

VERTICAL: 42.5"

BROAD: 10'6"

POSITIVES

— Very good short-area burst. Explodes into top gear.

— Good change of direction. Sudden mover who maintains speed and control while bending and turning.

— Good focus and ability to adjust to the ball outside his frame.

— Good ability to function in traffic and when contested. Uses arms to push off; unbothered making catches while being hit.

— Very good contact balance. Supports his YAC ability.

NEGATIVES

— Will not be an outside receiver at his size.

— Below-average ability to deal with press coverage. Short arms means DBs get into his frame. Not powerful enough to run through contact.

— Cannot climb the ladder and win the ball in the air.

2023 STATISTICS

— 12 G, 110 REC, 1,426 YDS (13.0 AVG), 9 TD

NOTES

— Born Jan. 4, 2001

— 3-star recruit in Northwestern's 2019 class, per 247Sports

— Transferred from Northwestern to Virginia in 2023

— 31 career starts

— 2023 first-team All-ACC

OVERALL

Malik Washington's size alone makes him a limited prospect, but his best traits will allow him to carve out a role in the NFL anyway.

Explosiveness is the name of the game for Washington. A short, thick receiver, Washington shows outstanding burst with the ball in his hands. He is lethal on screens and other simple yards-after-the-catch routes like flat routes and shallow crossers. Washington has the immediate burst and smooth change-of-direction skills to make defenders miss in tight spaces.

Washington brings nice speed as well. He isn't an elite vertical threat, but he has enough juice to test defenses down the seam and break away in the open field.

What really makes Washington's game work at his size is his toughness and focus. He is completely unafraid to traverse the middle of the field and make catches through contact. Moreover, Washington shows great ball-tracking skills and adjustment ability, often leaning, lunging and diving to make catches outside his frame.

Of course, all of that ability is limited to slot work. Washington's frame is too small to ever play outside reliably, as he struggles to beat press coverage. Defensive backs have no issue getting into his frame, and he just doesn't have the power to fight through contact easily.

The same applies to his ability to win the ball in the air. Though he has good concentration, Washington simply doesn't have the length or strength to climb the ladder.

Washington is a slot-only NFL player whose size will limit his high-end potential, but he can still be a starter. His explosiveness, change-of-direction ability and overall toughness should help make him into a quality role player with flashes of big plays.

GRADE: 6.9 (Potential Role Player/Contributor - 4th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 92

POSITION RANK: WR18

PRO COMPARISON: Albert Wilson

Written by B/R NFL Scout Derrik Klassen

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