Steelers select WR James Washington in the 2nd round of 2018 draft

[BlackAndGold]

[st33lersguy]

Bryant's replacement.

[teegre]

In my mock, I flip-flopped between him & Kerryon Johnson. Like, every time that I re-read it, I switched players.

In other words, I like this pick.

His 40 was okay, but when he has the pads on, he maintains his speed; ergo, he’s actually one of the fastest receivers (if not THE fastest receiver) in the draft. He fights for the ball. He made Mason Rudolph look good.

[hawaiiansteeler]

In my mock, I flip-flopped between him & Kerryon Johnson. Like, every time that I re-read it, I switched players.

In other words, I like this pick.

His 40 was okay, but when he has the pads on, he maintains his speed; ergo, he’s actually one of the fastest receivers (if not THE fastest receiver) in the draft. He fights for the ball. He made Mason Rudolph look good.

I hope James Washington makes Mason Rudolph look good for many more years to come!

[Mojouw]

In my mock, I flip-flopped between him & Kerryon Johnson. Like, every time that I re-read it, I switched players.

In other words, I like this pick.

His 40 was okay, but when he has the pads on, he maintains his speed; ergo, he’s actually one of the fastest receivers (if not THE fastest receiver) in the draft. He fights for the ball. He made Mason Rudolph look good.

I’m pretty sure this is the definition of irony.

[Cyphon25]

I am going to reserve judgment because I hated the JJSM pick last year.

I am okay with receiver this year but I really thought we would go bigger. Doesn't ultimately matter if Washington is good.

[hawaiiansteeler]

I am going to reserve judgment because I hated the JJSM pick last year.

I am okay with receiver this year but I really thought we would go bigger. Doesn't ultimately matter if Washington is good.

when you say bigger you must mean taller because James Washington is built like a brick shithouse...

[Cyphon25]

when you say bigger you must mean taller because James Washington is built like a brick shithouse...

Yeah taller is what I meant.

[Shoes]

Yeah taller is what I meant.

His arms are nearly as long as his body!

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Wasn't sure if it was him or Chark they wanted. He is a big body guy that will go up and get the football, while Chark will run away from defenders. They had the chance at both, so got the guy they wanted and suddenly the Steelers #3 WR position is solid. Pencil in the ususal suspects like Hunter and DHB and this season I expect Marcus Tucker to make it as the #6 WR. Nice pick.

[hawaiiansteeler]

Wasn't sure if it was him or Chark they wanted. He is a big body guy that will go up and get the football, while Chark will run away from defenders. They had the chance at both, so got the guy they wanted and suddenly the Steelers #3 WR position is solid. Pencil in the ususal suspects like Hunter and DHB and this season I expect Marcus Tucker to make it as the #6 WR. Nice pick.

they will probably re-sign Eli Rogers again also after the doctors clear him.

[DesertSteel]

He's a WR and the Steelers drafted him. Nuff said.

[teegre]

I hope James Washington makes Mason Rudolph look good for many more years to come!

- - - Updated - - -

I’m pretty sure this is the definition of irony.

[BlackAndGold]

[teegre]

He wore 28... I wonder if he’ll wear 82.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

I just rewatched his Combine field drills and he caught the ball well in the gauntlet, ran good patterns, tracked the ball well and adjusted on some over the shoulder go routes. Some of the comments were as follows:

Mayock
-he's thick and muscular, built like a RB
-when you put on his tape, he plays bigger and runs faster than he looks
-he's really good at tracking the football on deep passes and making adjustments, it comes naturally.
-at 6ft or 6'1" or whatever he is, he isn't the biggest guy, but he goes up and challenges for those 50-50 balls with an aggressiveness that most guys his size don't.

Daniel Jeremiah
-I see a lot of Pierre Garcon in him for what he does with the football after the catch. (implied he runs strong and doesn't go down easy)
-another pro comparison I heard was Chris Chambers, the WR from Wisconsin who was very strong as well

Michael Irvin
- I really like this Washington kid. He runs well, catches well, looks like a really good player. (then as Washington adjusts to a deep 9 thrown over the wrong shoulder..."nice adjustment on the deep ball, which he does naturally")

I also am gleaning that he is a farmer, an agriculture major, from a small town and appears to have a great work ethic. Some of the scouting reports say that he fights the ball at times and isn't a natural hands catcher, but he looked natural in the gauntlet and caught a quick out in drill and got the ball in and turned upfield abruptly, where other WR's rounded it out more. I'm really starting to think he is an instant improvement to the WR corps on day 1. Might be a competition to see who works harder between AB, JuJu and JW.....something tells me this kid is just gonna grind and be great.

[Mojouw]

I just rewatched his Combine field drills and he caught the ball well in the gauntlet, ran good patterns, tracked the ball well and adjusted on some over the shoulder go routes. Some of the comments were as follows:

Mayock
-he's thick and muscular, built like a RB
-when you put on his tape, he plays bigger and runs faster than he looks
-he's really good at tracking the football on deep passes and making adjustments, it comes naturally.
-at 6ft or 6'1" or whatever he is, he isn't the biggest guy, but he goes up and challenges for those 50-50 balls with an aggressiveness that most guys his size don't.

Daniel Jeremiah
-I see a lot of Pierre Garcon in him for what he does with the football after the catch. (implied he runs strong and doesn't go down easy)
-another pro comparison I heard was Chris Chambers, the WR from Wisconsin who was very strong as well

Michael Irvin
- I really like this Washington kid. He runs well, catches well, looks like a really good player. (then as Washington adjusts to a deep 9 thrown over the wrong shoulder..."nice adjustment on the deep ball, which he does naturally")

I also am gleaning that he is a farmer, an agriculture major, from a small town and appears to have a great work ethic. Some of the scouting reports say that he fights the ball at times and isn't a natural hands catcher, but he looked natural in the gauntlet and caught a quick out in drill and got the ball in and turned upfield abruptly, where other WR's rounded it out more. I'm really starting to think he is an instant improvement to the WR corps on day 1. Might be a competition to see who works harder between AB, JuJu and JW.....something tells me this kid is just gonna grind and be great.

Thanks for sharing all that.

Anyone else getting the vibe that Washington's ceiling is like a thicker version of Steve Smith Sr.? I'm not trying to put the kid in the HOF or anything, but I just mean a stocky, fiesty guy that plays far faster and better than his testing #'s indicate?

I mean take a look: http://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=5881 and https://www.nfl.com/prospects/james-...c-5f82fa873706

However, I always always over-rate WR prospects. Mostly because I forget that half the time in college they are covered by guys who won't even sniff the NFL.

[stillers4me]

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Thanks for sharing all that.

Anyone else getting the vibe that Washington's ceiling is like a thicker version of Steve Smith Sr.? I'm not trying to put the kid in the HOF or anything, but I just mean a stocky, fiesty guy that plays far faster and better than his testing #'s indicate?

I mean take a look: http://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=5881 and https://www.nfl.com/prospects/james-...c-5f82fa873706

However, I always always over-rate WR prospects. Mostly because I forget that half the time in college they are covered by guys who won't even sniff the NFL.

Testing #'s are ok to look at, but Steve Smith didn't succeed on testing #'s. It was that 400 lb chip on his shoulder that he played with every day. I think the takeaway is that Washington isn't as undersized as Smith, and not as shifty laterally as Smith, but plays bigger and faster than he looks like. He may not have that huge chip on his shoulder, but looks like he competes.

[DesertSteel]

If I recall correctly, AB ran a 4.56 at the combine. Pedestrian. He’s OK in pads.

[hawaiiansteeler]

If I recall correctly, AB ran a 4.56 at the combine. Pedestrian. He’s OK in pads.

yeah, not bad...

[43Hitman]

If I recall correctly, AB ran a 4.56 at the combine. Pedestrian. He’s OK in pads.

The problem is that he just doesn't work hard enough.

[hawaiiansteeler]

The problem is that he just doesn't work hard enough.

between AB not working hard enough and Ben not watching enough film it's no wonder we don't win the Super Bowl every year.

[43Hitman]

between AB not working hard enough and Ben not watching enough film it's no wonder we don't win the Super Bowl every year.

That falls squarely on the coaches shoulders. Obviously they are not motivated and haven't been taught good work ethic, attention to detail, etc.

[Mojouw]

Testing #'s are ok to look at, but Steve Smith didn't succeed on testing #'s. It was that 400 lb chip on his shoulder that he played with every day. I think the takeaway is that Washington isn't as undersized as Smith, and not as shifty laterally as Smith, but plays bigger and faster than he looks like. He may not have that huge chip on his shoulder, but looks like he competes.

I agree with all that. If Washington comes in and works like AB and JuJu - he is going to be a pretty darn good WR.

[pczach]

between AB not working hard enough and Ben not watching enough film it's no wonder we don't win the Super Bowl every year.

If only Ben watched more film, studied the playbook harder, and really worked on knowing his assignments, he would have been on the same page as Martavis Bryant more often and wouldn't have been shaking his head as much after plays.

[DesertSteel]

The problem is that he just doesn't work hard enough.

He's alright on special teams.

[stillers4me]

He's alright on special teams.

Speaking of special teams......Tomlin only has one pick left to get his next speedy 5'2" returner.

[ALLD]

Speaking of special teams......Tomlin only has one pick left to get his next speedy 5'2" returner.

Or a 5'7" CB to cover TEs.

[hawaiiansteeler]

Oklahoma State receiver James Washington becomes Steelers new deep threat

by RAY FITTIPALDO
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
APR 27, 2018

The Steelers were without a deep threat on their receiving corps for about 24 hours. General manager Kevin Colbert wasted no time finding a replacement for Martavis Bryant by selecting receiver James Washington out of Oklahoma State with the No. 60 overall pick in the second round Friday night.

One day after trading Bryant to the Raiders, the Steelers found the most productive receiver in the country available to them. A unanimous All-America selection, Washington led the nation with 1,549 receiving yards. He posted nine 100-yard games.

to read rest of article:

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/s...s/201804270192