Wire's Doug Farrar named a 2024 NFL draft sleeper for all 32 teams and the one he picked for the Atlanta Falcons may surprise some. Farrar selected former Illinois wide receiver Casey Washington as the name to look out for in Atlanta.
“39 and a half inch vertical – prototype, size, speed,” Fontenot said of Washington. “He has measurables. He has traits. We spent time with him. We love the makeup. Plays with a chip on his shoulder. He’s a competitor. We know he’ll be able to contribute in other areas as well.”
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Washington, who was somehow not invited to the scouting combine, went to Atlanta with the 187th pick in the sixth round. What did Atlanta like about Washington that they didn’t already have? Well, Washington is a big, vertical receiver who has an especially good grasp of corner and fade routes — the kinds of things that take cornerbacks where they don’t necessarily want to go against a big, fast dude. Last season, Washington caught four passes of 20 or more air yards on just nine targets for 165 yards and a touchdown. Target share may be an issue in the regular season, but if Penix is throwing the ball in the preseason, Washington should put on a show.
Illinois (and now Falcons) receiver Casey Washington: 49 catches last season, 10 explosive plays. 6'2", 200-pound vertical receiver who can be a real problem for defenses on fade balls. Atlanta got this one right. pic.twitter.com/Xm9G7T9o3m
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) April 28, 2024
If there is one thing that quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. can do, they can throw a fade ball to a jump-ball receiver. Washington's physicality is one thing that the Falcons did lose a lot of when they overhauled their offense this off-season. Outside of Pitts and London, Atlanta could not trust anyone to win a 50/50 ball down the field.
Now, they have another big-framed, physical target to complement all the speed they brought in.
