Tony Washington, OLB, Oregon, 6-foot-4, 247 pounds
STRENGTHS: Flexible body type with natural bend and length - at his best when he uses his arm extension to keep himself clean off the edge, allowing him to work around blockers in space...speedy in pursuit with fluid ankles to flatten and break down in small spaces...comfortable on his feet with the lateral movements to cover a large area - looks natural flipping his hips and dropping in coverage... executes assignments with cat-like quickness.
Uses his length well to wrap, leading with his face and bringing his feet...knack for poking the ball out with seven forced fumbles the last two seasons... versatile experience in two and three point stance, wearing several hats in Oregon's defense - consistent production as a starter...self-motivated and accountable who won't shrink in crunch time.
WEAKNESSES: Lean-muscled with questionable core strength and upper and lower body growth potential concerns...average functional power, too often controlled by single blockers once they latch on and can be stiff-armed by ballcarriers...needs to better trust his eyes and flow quicker to the ball - instincts are still undeveloped...needs to improve his anticipation to better leverage blocks.
Pass rush sequence needs help as he struggles to adjust mid-move, recognizing what blockers are doing, but not always reacting with effective secondary moves...needs to play smarter and eliminate unnecessary post-play activities.
IN OUR VIEW: Playing the Dion Jordan role for the Ducks, Washington lined up over the slot, off the edge and various other positions to utilize his lanky athleticism. He doesn't look out of place in space with the balanced coordination to transition and be versatile, showing the closing burst to be an effective finisher. Washington is an intriguing athlete, but not much more at this point and needs strength and technique work before he's ready for consistent NFL snaps. Nonetheless, he has the tools attractive for a NFL front seven, fitting best as a stand-up outside linebacker who can cash his checks based on special teams play.--Dane Brugler
PLAYER OVERVIEW
A three-star defensive end recruit out of high school, Washington received a handful of Pac-12 scholarship offers, committing to Oregon and redshirting in 2010. He was a reserve redshirt freshman in 2011 before earning a few starts in 2012 as a sophomore defensive end, recording 20 total tackles.
Washington replaced Dion Jordan as the starting outside linebacker in 2013 and led the Ducks in tackles for loss (12.0), sacks (7.5) and forced fumbles (four), earning All-Pac 12 Honorable Mention honors. He again started every game in 2014 as a senior, finishing second on the team in tackles for loss (11.5) and sacks (6.0), leading the team in forced fumbles (three) and fumble recoveries (three), but didn't win All-Conference honors. Washington earned an invitation to the 2015 East-West Shrine Game.
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ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Has experience as a 3-4 OLB and defensive end. Can bend, dip and rip at top of his rush to turn the corner. Still growing into his frame. Flashes NFL edge-setting potential. Plays with good bend and arm extension at point of attack. Wraps up his targets and ends the play as a tackler.
WEAKNESSES
Snap-and-go pass rusher with no real plan of attack. Limited counter moves, relying on athleticism over skill. Has small hands and doesn't win with them enough. Needs to improve play strength. Can be mismatched in man coverage. Doesn't always seize opportunities to turn the corner as a rusher and will take wide angles to the quarterback. Instincts aren't there yet.
BOTTOM LINE
Washington's lower body could use more bulk, but as a 3-4 OLB, he has enough play strength. He's technically proficient against the run on the edge and should continue to improve as a pass rusher with more work in that area during camps. Washington lacks dynamic qualities against the run or pass, but should be able to get into a camp.
--Lance Zierlein
