Which Team Could Pick Parker Washington in the 2023 NFL Draft?

"I’m trying to tell you this kid is nice, I see the calf muscles, no slot receiver has calf muscles like that."

That's how Penn State safety Lamont Wade described wide receiver Parker Washington in Washington's freshman year. Standing at 5' 10," the 20-year-old packs a lot of muscle in his 215-pound body. He is extremely strong for his height and fast for his weight. No 5' 10" receiver currently in the NFL weighs over 200 pounds.

In terms of body type, he is similar to Terry McLaurin, Parris Campbell, and Deebo Samuel. While the fellow Big 10 product McLaurin was not known for making contested catches in college but developed his ability in the pros, Washington is already known for outmuscling defensive backs at the catch point.

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What Did Parker Washington Do In His College Career?

Lining up alongside Jahan Dotson at Penn State during his freshman season, Washington caught 36 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns in nine games. He stepped up his production his sophomore season, again playing the slot while Dotson was out wide. That year, he made 64 catches for 820 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games.

Last year was his first season as the Nittany Lions' leading receiver. But he did not breakout in the absence of Dotson. In 10 games, his reception total dropped to 67, receiving yards to 611, and touchdowns to two. Still, his talent wowed analysts.

He is a physical receiver and an excellent route runner. He has good hands and recorded one of the best contested catch rates amongst NFL prospects, at 71.4%.

PFF ranks Washington as the WR7 and the 57th-best player overall. Others are not quite as high as PFF; the NFL Mock Draft Database, which aggregates a wide variety of rankings, put him at WR14 and overall No. 111.

Which Team Could Pick Parker Washington In The 2023 NFL Draft?

A team looking for a reliable physical presence in the slot, where he lined up for most of his routes each year, could use Parker Washington. He's going in the late first round (often to Buffalo) in some mock drafts, but it is more likely he will go in the second round or early third if he falls.

The two teams picking before the Bills, the Giants and the Cowboys at picks No. 26 and 27, also need receiver help. Those would all be good spots if Washington raises his draft stock and goes in the late first round--or if he lasts until the late second.

The first half of the second round also contains some possible landing spots, including Houston (No. 34), Indianapolis (No. 36), Cleveland (No. 43), and Atlanta (No. 45). If the Falcons either stick with Desmond Ridder or add QB competition in Round One, then they have Washington on the inside and Drake London on the outside, and they could have a very good offense.

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