James Washington NFL Draft 2018: Scouting Report for Pittsburgh Steelers Pick

POSITIVES

—Incredibly productive, consistent player coming out of Oklahoma State.

—Dominated Senior Bowl week with hands and vertical ability.

—Can take the top off a defense despite not having great timed speed (4.54).

—Tracks the ball well and uses his size to box out on 50-50 balls.

—Strong strider who chews up yards going down the field.

—Averaged more than 20 yards per catch in 2017.

NEGATIVES

—Played in a scheme that created tons of space for him to operate; didn't have to separate on his own.

—Short (5'11"), high-waisted player.

—Dominated very poor competition in the Big 12; surrounded by talent that drew attention from him.

—Doesn't use his stocky build to wall off cornerbacks on comeback routes.

—Route tree is somewhat limited.

James Washington WR NFL Draft

OVERALL

James Washington's production at Oklahoma State and his performance at the Senior Bowl are hard to overlook. He may be limited to a WR2 role (or the slot), but his vertical-push ability and consistent hands make him a very attractive target in the late-second to early-third range.

GRADE: 6.50 (Round 2-3)

PRO PLAYER COMPARISON: Michael Crabtree, Baltimore Ravens