2014 NFL Combine Preview: Five More Wide Receivers to Watch
By Ben Nielsen
Oct 13, 2012; Columbia, MO, USA; Missouri Tigers wide receiver L
School: Missouri
Watch to Watch: 40-Time, The Gauntlet, Route Tree
2013 Stats: 50 catches, 893 yards, 17.9 ypc, 10 touchdowns
Met with Chiefs: No
L’Damian Washington is 6-4, 200 pounds and is projected to run a sub-4.4 40-yard dash at the combine, but he’s still raw as a receiver.
The knocks on Washington revolve around technical things like route running, catching the ball with his hands and not his body, and getting in better position in the air. These are the kinds of things, in addition to the insane depth of the receiver class, which may leave Washington available in the sixth and seventh rounds, or even undrafted.
However, his potential upside is very strong. Six-foot, four-inch receivers who run sub-4.4’s do not grow on trees. Washington could be a guy who, with a year of development, could be a great outside threat for the Chiefs. The potential speed Kansas City could put on the field in 2015 with, say, Jamaal Charles, Marqise Lee, Saunders, and Washington would be insane. There’s a chance the Chiefs could have four guys with 4.3 40-times on the field if things broke their way.
And there is reason to think Washington could develop into a very solid reserve outside receiver. He’s been noted at Missouri for his work ethic, and he’s seen strong improvement in his game over the last two years at Missouri. There’s a good argument to be made Washington was Missouri’s most reliable receiver this season.
It’ll be interesting, should Washington be around in the seventh round, if the Chiefs used a late round pick on him. If the combine confirms his size, speed, and agility numbers then it would make a ton of sense to select him.