Will Steelers wideout James Washington become the next Hines Ward?
… many like Reggie Wayne are high on the second-rounder
The reviews for James Washington after the Steelers selected him as their second-round pick, the 60th overall, in 2018, were superb. After his 2017 season at Oklahoma State, he received the Biletnikoff Award that is emblematic of the top college receiver in the country.
He caught 226 passes for 4,472 yards and 39 TDs in his college career. Many of those were from Mason Rudolph, whom the Steelers also selected in the third round of the same draft.
Nevertheless, Washington fell to the seventh receiver selected in the 2018 draft.
Why?
Washington lacks some physical tools
Primarily, he fell because of size and speed. He is only 5-11, and his speed is just about 4.5 in the 40-yard dash, and those are not impressive numbers.
A story about how few 5-foot, 11-inch receivers, actually sub 6-foot receivers, in Pro Football Reference noted that only two receivers under that since 2000 have been drafted,
In fact, the last time the combine had a sub-6-foot receiver who weighed more 210 pounds was 2005.
Washington told SB Nation how he uses that size to his advantage against defensive backs.
“Strength and vertical,” he explained. “Most DBs that I went against are fairly small, and the fact that I’m 215, it really helps going up against a smaller guy. Just being fearless, not caring what’s gonna happen.”
Alex Kirshner, SB Nation, April 27, 2018
Reggie Wayne believes in Washington
However, one former NFL great receiver thinks that Washington has the tools to be a great receiver. Reggie Wayne was a former six-time pro bowl receiver who starred with the Indianapolis Colts.
Wayne said this about Washington on the NFL Network,
“This is another year under this system where [James Washington] can learn to be a professional. Also another year where he can learn that offense and get on the same page with Big Ben, right? We saw little glimpses of what he could do towards the end of the season last year… He has all the potential in the world to be a big-time receiver in this league.”
Reggie Wayne, NFL Network
That is high praise from a receiver who caught 1,070 passes for 14,345 yards and 82 touchdowns in his career.
Steelers high on Washington despite rough 2018
The Steelers are still very optimistic that Washington will develop into a top-tier receiver for them despite an erratic year, though one in which he demonstrated glimpses of tremendous promise.
He finished the year with just 16 receptions for 217 yards and one touchdown — a veritable disappointment.
With the departure of the superly-talented but troubled Antonio Brown, the second spot is open, and Washington will have a chance to secure that. According to Pro Football Talk, Coach Mike Tomlin is very optimistic that Washington will have a breakout season this year,
Tomlin said that he felt comfortable with the current group of receivers because he thinks 2018 second-round pick James Washington will do more this year. Tomlin said that the Steelers “expect great things” in Washington’s second season.
April 2017
Another Hines Ward? He will have to prove that
When Washington was drafted, some commentators were saying that he could be a sleeper for the Steelers, just like Hines Ward, the former Georgia quarterback who was a third-round pick but became the team’s leading receiver in history.
That may have been wishful thinking or hyperbole, but Washington has shown glimpses of that potential. However, doing so on a regular basis is what will make dreams become reality.
And remember, that number 84 for the Steelers was a sixth-round selection.
And Hall of Famer John Stallworth, who won four Super Bowls with Lynn Swann on the other side, was a fourth-round pick. So, the Steelers have some history here.
Washington looked good in the preseason last year, but he was playing behind JuJu Shuster, who is now the number 1 receiver and was number 2 last season, and Brown.
Now, he will have his chance.
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