2024 Exclusive Sneak Peek: Malik Washington, WR Virginia
Welcome to the Exclusive Sneak Peek: Malik Washington, a three-star recruit out of Lawrenceville, Georgia. At Parkview High School, Washington played multiple positions and was highly productive on both sides of the ball. Recruited as a wide receiver, Washington decided to attend Northwestern University.
As a Wildcat, Washington didn’t contribute much until his junior year. During the 2021 season, he caught 44 balls for 578 yards and 2 touchdowns. As a senior, he saw even more work, finishing with 65 receptions for 694 yards and 1 score. But after his senior season, Washington transferred to the University of Virginia and broke out in a big way.
While pursuing his graduate degree in Higher Education, Washington was also dominating the field. He crushed ACC competition, earning First-team All-ACC honors and being named a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to College Football’s best wide receiver. The former high school track star recorded 110 receptions, 1426 yards, and 9 touchdowns in his one season at Virginia, solidifying himself as an NFL-caliber receiver in the process.
Measurables
NCAA Statistics
| Receiving | Rushing | Scrimmage | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Plays | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 2019 | Northwestern | Big Ten | FR | WR | 11 | 6 | 25 | 4.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 25 | 4.2 | 0 | |
| *2020 | Northwestern | Big Ten | SO | WR | 5 | 5 | 51 | 10.2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 0 | 6 | 59 | 9.8 | 0 |
| 2021 | Northwestern | Big Ten | JR | WR | 12 | 44 | 578 | 13.1 | 2 | 5 | -2 | -0.4 | 0 | 49 | 576 | 11.8 | 2 |
| 2022 | Northwestern | Big Ten | SR | 12 | 65 | 694 | 10.7 | 1 | 9 | 16 | 1.8 | 0 | 74 | 710 | 9.6 | 1 | |
| 2023 | Virginia | ACC | SR | WR | 12 | 110 | 1426 | 13.0 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 2.3 | 0 | 113 | 1433 | 12.7 | 9 |
| Career | Overall | 230 | 2774 | 12.1 | 12 | 18 | 29 | 1.6 | 0 | 248 | 2803 | 11.3 | 12 | ||||
| Northwestern | 120 | 1348 | 11.2 | 3 | 15 | 22 | 1.5 | 0 | 135 | 1370 | 10.1 | 3 | |||||
| Virginia | 110 | 1426 | 13.0 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 2.3 | 0 | 113 | 1433 | 12.7 | 9 | |||||
Scouting Reports
Strengths
- Runs with power, often lowering his head to gain extra yards.
- Great hands and excellent concentration in contested catch situations.
- Insane explosiveness and leaping ability.
- Good long speed.
- Slippery in the open field.
- Utilized well in the screen game.
Weaknesses
- Size a concern, especially if being asked to block.
- Play style may be too reckless for his frame.
- Profiles as a slot receiver due to size, although his skill set can play all over the field.
Pre-Draft Analysis
Expected Draft Capital: Late 4th/Early 5th Round
Ideal Landing Spot: Los Angeles Chargers
With the likely departure of Austin Ekeler and Gerald Everett, Los Angeles all of a sudden has some major holes in their short-to-intermediate passing game. And now that we have a new head coach and offensive coordinator in town, the days of bombing it down the sidelines to Mike Williams and Josh Palmer may be over.
While Keenan Allen is still likely to command the lion’s share of targets from Justin Herbert, there is a role for a quick-twitch receiver to operate on screens and short-area routes to keep the middle free for Allen. That’s where a talent like Washington could operate, stretching the field horizontally and offering a boundary option to spell Palmer and, at times, replace Williams. Washington is also no stranger to running the football, making him a nice, later-round weapon in the Chargers new scheme.
For Washington, finding a room devoid of a short-area receiver is key. We know Allen doesn’t have long left in the league, so it’s also a plus for him to learn behind one of the best to ever operate in the slot. Allen’s versatility would also serve Washington well as an understudy, eventually paving the way for him to grow and step right into Allen’s vacated role, if necessary.
Post-Draft Analysis
Pick 6.184 to the Miami Dolphins
Washington
