The draft stock of USC Trojan WR Tahj Washington is rising. While he was once considered likely to be an undrafted free agent, he is now moving up the draft boards of NFL teams. Analysts view him as underrated.
Bio and Stats — USC Trojan WR Tahj Washington
22-year-old Tahj Washington is 5’10” and weighs 174 lbs. He was a high school track star who has run the 40-yard dash in 4.32 seconds.
Washington was a three-star prospect coming out of high school in Texas. He began his collegiate career at Memphis, where, in 2020, he had 743 receiving yards, and led all freshmen in the country with six touchdown receptions. He was named a Freshman All-American.
Washington transferred to USC in 2021.
He was All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention in 2022. During the course of the 2022 season, Washington racked up 785 receiving yards and hauled in six touchdown passes.
Washington impressed his fellow USC Trojan teammates, as exemplified by the remarks of likely 2024 QB1 Miller Moss:
“Tahj is just the man. There’s so many things that you don’t see that he does, whether it’s on special teams, whether it’s blocking on the perimeter. It’s no surprise to see that he shines in the way that he does.
“Dude never complains, never whines about not getting the ball, always does his job at a super, super high level. I think you see that kind of come to fruition in the opportunities that he gets. He’s the freaking man. I think everyone on that team, everyone in that locker room, would ride or die for Tahj.”
In 2023, his redshirt senior year at USC, Washington was on the Biletnikoff Award Watch List and had one of the best seasons by a wide receiver in the country. In the 2023 season, Washington had 59 receptions, including eight touchdowns. He had a total of 1,062 receiving yards, with an averages of 18 yards per reception. His receiving yard total was the 23rd highest in the nation.
Washington Stood Out at the Shrine Bowl and NFL Combine
Heading into the 2024 NFL Draft, Washington was originally regarded as a prospect likely to be passed over and relegated to the status of undrafted free agent. However, standout performances in the East-West Shrine Bowl and the NFL Combine in Indianapolis have turned heads. He is now projected to be selected as high as the fourth or fifth round of the draft.
At the 99th annual East -West Shrine Bowl, Washington “stole the show.” As reported by Yahoo Sports, the Trojan WR “clearly improved his draft stock” in the Shrine Bowl.
Taulia Tagovailoa scrambles out of the pocket and hits USC WR Tahj Washington for a chunk play.
The drive stalls out and they settle for 3.
17-3 with 2:05 left in the half. @ShrineBowl @PFN365 pic.twitter.com/YZIaS7Kyzt
— Tony Catalina (@Tony_Catalina) February 2, 2024
Great to talk to @tahj_washington at the @ShrineBowl! #ALLIN2024 pic.twitter.com/TTCLjzTsHn
— All In Sports Outreach (@All_In317) February 2, 2024
At the Combine, Washington demonstrated that he is a “[f]luid athlete with explosive burst and speed to stretch the field and breeze past defenders.”
Serving up the @tahj_washington special at the #NFLCombine 👨🍳‼️✌️#NFLCombine on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/i9xaLxZjMp
— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) March 3, 2024
Rising Draft Stock
In a recent article concerning WR Tahj Washington, All Trojans Fan Nation | Sports Illustrated explains:
Washington had himself one heck of a year [in 2023]; however, he’s not high on many draft boards. Nonetheless, creator of ‘The Film Room’ Brett Kollmann believes Washington is severely underrated in the draft.
In his three years at USC, Washington did nothing but produce. In the Cardinal Red and Gold, the 22-year-old collected 163 receptions for 2449 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 15.0 receiving yards per reception.
As Kollmann alluded to, his skillset as a separator is among the best in the draft. He’s fast and flashy and can be a legitimate threat at the pro level. Before the Shrine Bowl, Washington was projected to be an undrafted free agent; after that, he’s now projected to be drafted in the sixth round.
NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein describes Washington as a slot receiver prospect with above-average route acumen and an impressive win rate on contested catches. Zierlein also observes:
[Washington is] fearless [when running] into the middle of the field and is a willing run blocker out of three-wide receiver sets. [He] is a talented return man and has some real dog in him on coverage teams.
The Las Vegas Raiders are taking a close look at Washington:
“Tahj Washington is someone who should rise up draft boards over the next two months. Washington is very quick, and had the luxury of playing with [Caleb] Williams as his quarterback this past season, so there is a lot of tape on him.”
In a mock draft conducted by the Los Angeles Football Network (LAFB) on March 8, 2024, Washington was selected in the fifth round by the Los Angeles Rams.
As Washington recently tweeted, he will “fight on” forever!
— TeachTapeTahj (@tahj_washington) January 23, 2024
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