Malik Washington 2024 Dynasty Rookie Profile

Malik Washington 2024 Dynasty Rookie Draft Profile

Position: WR

School: Virginia 

Class: Fifth-Year Senior

Date of Birth: January 4, 2001

Height: 5-8  Weight: 191 lbs

Athletic Testing

Bio

Malik Washington began his football journey at Parkview High School in Georgia. He was a star on the track team and two-way player on the football field. In 2017, Washington won the state and national championship in the 4×100 meter relay. In football, he played quarterback and wide receiver while also racking up 117 tackles and eight interceptions on defense. Washington concluded his career with 130 receptions and just under 2,000 yards receiving, 687 rushing yards, and 28 total touchdowns. That was enough to earn a three-star grade in the 2019 recruiting class and offers from nearly 20 schools. 

Washington signed on with Northwestern where he combined for just 11 receptions in his first two seasons before breaking out in 2021. In 12 games, he caught 44 passes for 578 yards and two touchdowns. He followed that up with a similar season as a senior in 2022 before transferring to Virginia for his final year of eligibility. 

In 12 games in 2023, Washington caught 110 passes for 1,426 yards and nine touchdowns. That included 10 100-yard games on his way to second-team All-American. Washington was also a semi-finalist for the Biletnikoff Award.

College Stats

Malik Washington College Stats Courtesy of sports-reference

Positives

+Quickness

+Reliable Hands

+Ball Skills

+YAC

+Works well in traffic

+9.2 receptions per game (2023)

+3.6 yards per team pass attempt (2023)

+47.4% receiving touchdown share (2023)

+47.4% Dominator Rating (2023)

+14 kick returns in 2023

+Age 20 Breakout (2021; junior)

Negatives

-Undersized 

-Will be limited to slot duties

-Lacks deep speed

-Limited Route Tree

Highlight Reel

Archetype: Slot WR

NFL Comp: Zay Flowers

Yards Per-Formance Score: 56.5 (83rd-percentile)

Draft Projection: Fourth Round

Bottom Line:

Malik Washington is one of the most fun wide receiver prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft class. He is severely undersized at 5-8, but he is quick and shifty with great ball skills and an intriguing production profile. Washington is a quality route runner who pairs that with his athletic traits and high football IQ to consistently create separation and get open. He has natural and reliable hands and he works well in traffic, making him a go-to target for his quarterback in just about every situation. And that’s how things played out for him in his one year at Virginia. The Cavaliers made Washington the focal point of their offense and found ways to get the ball in his hands in as many ways as they could.

Despite his size, Washington is a tough tackle in the open field. Not only does he use his elite quickness to make guys miss, but he is more than willing and capable to break through arm tackles as well. He has a running back mentality with the ball in his hands and he will fight for every inch.

In the NFL, Malik Washington projects as a depth wide receiver who could compete to be a team’s starting slot. He will thrive in the quick game and underneath routes and be a reliable option in must-have situations. Washington is likely to be a fourth round pick on draft weekend. He will make for an intriguing option, yet low(ish) upside play, in the later rounds of dynasty rookie drafts.

NEXT: Bucky Irving 2024 Dynasty Rookie Profile

Resources: DLF, PlayerProfiler, PFN, PFF, TDN

RANKINGS  | DYNASTY | Rookies

Follow @a_johnsonFF