Buffalo Bills host elite tight end Darnell Washington for Top 30 visit

The Buffalo Bills continue to schedule playmakers for Top 30 visits, where the team can bring up to 30 players into their facility for interviews, meetings with team personnel, and a physical.

Last week it was reported by Aaron Wilson that the Bills will host Georgia Bulldogs tight end Darnell Washington. In their quest to add playmakers, the Bills seem to have put a heavy emphasis on pass catchers as they have also brought in wide receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba out of Ohio State, Jordan Addison from USC, and Zay Flowers from Boston College among others.

Washington has been a favorite target for Bills fans since putting his unique blend of power and athleticism on display with a spectacular one-handed catch and impressive sled drill at the NFL Combine. The one-handed catch became a viral sensation, however, his limited receiving work in college, where he had just 45 receptions, indicates that he will be more of a developmental project rather than an immediate impact pass-catching option.

Darnell Washington is an interesting fit for the Buffalo Bills

Even without an extensive pass-catching resume, Washington is an interesting fit for the Bills. Because of his elite physical profile, he fits the mold of what the Buffalo Bills have typically prioritized in the draft, and they have not shied away from taking physically gifted players who need more development in recent drafts.

Perhaps the Bills would be eager to take on this project, realizing that tight ends are usually slow to develop as pass-catching weapons at the NFL level anyway, and Washington could immediately project as an elite blocker. Adding a blocking tight end such as Washington could help to improve running lanes for second-year RB James Cook, and newly acquired free agent addition Damien Harris, as well as improve run blocking and provide another short dump-off option for QB Josh Allen.

Washington is a unique player in that he could help the Bills address two of their top offseason needs – namely adding a dynamic playmaker and improving protection for Josh Allen. It is rare that teams can address multiple high-priority needs through one player in the draft, however with Washington projected to be drafted late in the first round or possibly even in day 2, the Bills may be able to do just that.