Indianapolis — If we’re to take general manager Brad Holmes at his word, the Detroit Lions aren’t really looking to add a rookie tight end to an already young group.
Despite dealing away former Pro Bowler T.J. Hockenson at the trade deadline last season, the Lions still managed to get plenty of production from their relatively inexperienced trio at the position last season. Including the three scores Hockenson provided before his departure, Detroit’s tight end group combined for 12 touchdowns, the most in franchise history.
But the scoring numbers somewhat skew the overall picture. Detroit’s tight ends finished 26th in targets last season, with Hockenson accounting for nearly half of them in the seven games before the trade. On top of that, the team doesn’t have anyone who could be considered even an above-average blocker at the position, at least not at this stage of their careers.
That’s why it wasn’t surprising to hear Holmes acknowledge adding an experienced vet to the mix couldn’t be ruled out.
“Again, we’re always looking to add,” Holmes said last week. “We’re always looking to add. We’ll not leave a stone unturned. If there’s someone that can help us that has a little more experience, maybe, that can bring a little bit more immediate contribution.”
But even though Holmes is steering the conversation away from drafting a tight end this year, the top-end talent in this class merits consideration. Several of the tight ends who competed in the drill portion of the scouting combine on Saturday proved to be some of the most athletic players we’ve ever seen coming into the league at the position.
In fact, it can be argued that Old Dominion’s Zack Kuntz, who measured in at 6-foot-7, 255 pounds, is the most athletically gifted tight end ever after running a blazing fast 4.55-second 40-yard dash to go with elite leaping ability and agility numbers. And Oregon State’s Luke Musgrave, Michigan’s Luke Schoonmaker, South Dakota State’s Tucker Kraft and Iowa’s Sam LaPorta’s measurables weren’t far behind.
But if there’s one prospect who merits Detroit’s attention above all others, it’s Georgia’s Darnell Washington. That was the case based off his frame and film alone, but even more so after he also posted some of the top athletic numbers for a tight end in combine history, despite weighing in at a beefy 264 pounds.
At his media session earlier in the week, Washington said his size makes him unique. Maybe not 10 or 15 years ago, but now, that’s absolutely true. Tight ends have trended more lean and athletic in recent years, playing expanded roles in the spread passing games that dominant the college ranks. Washington is more of a throwback, who after being disgusted with his blocking while watching film as a freshman, committed to making it a strength.
And it’s not that Washington can’t catch, it’s that he wasn’t a top target for the talent-rich Bulldogs, who also roster the likely top tight end in the 2024 draft class, Brock Bowers. Washington, who was a big-bodied receiver in high school, used to try to emulate Lions Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson. Now the Georgia product prefers to mold his game after Mark Andrews and Mercedes Lewis, a couple of top-tier dual threats in the NFL.
“There is only one football,” Washington said. “You can’t give it to everybody. I just embraced the role of blocking. It’s a mindset thing.”
Washington was able to showcase his receiving ability a bit last season, catching 28 passes for 454 yards and a couple touchdowns. And he proclaimed with a leaping one-handed stab during the position drills at the combine that there’s plenty of untapped potential to be explored.
With his stellar combine, and great tape doing the dirty work at Georgia, Washington has put himself in the mix to be the first tight end drafted in April, along with Notre Dame’s Michael Meyer and Utah’s Dalton Kincaid.
Lions fans could be understandably wary of addressing the position in the first round. The team has taken three in the opening round since 2009, and while all had their moments in Detroit, Brandon Pettigrew, Eric Ebron and Hockenson never fully lived up to their draft slots. But Washington, more than the others in this class, perfectly fits what the team is trying to do offensively.
The Lions want to be balanced, they want to run the ball, and often had to lean on formations with six offensive linemen to do so. Washington would essentially be that sixth lineman, but wouldn’t be a player opponents could ignore in the passing game.
“I feel like I’m only scratching the surface,” Washington said. “I feel like I’m a good blocker, but I can turn into a great blocker. I’m a good athlete. I feel like I can turn into a great athlete.”
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @Justin_Rogers