Matt LaFleur and Mark Murphy - CBS Photo
GREEN BAY, WI (WSAU) – Each draft cycle, NFL teams are allowed 30 pre-draft visits, and this week, the Packers welcomed their first two.
The Packers’ first reported offseason visit was with Georgia tight end Darnell Washington, who is currently ranked 34th on many scouts draft boards. The second player to visit Green Bay in this class, according to his Instagram story, is Iowa State pass-rusher Will McDonald IV.
Washington is an in-line, hands-in-the-dirt tight end for the back-to-back champion Bulldogs who contributed more as a blocker than a pass-catcher.
UGA TE Darnell Washington is visiting the Packers pic.twitter.com/sSLxJxE48C
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) March 21, 2023
The 6’7″, 264-pound Washington was able to earn Second-Team All-SEC honors in 2022 despite his generally underwhelming performance. Despite only having caught 45 passes in his time at Georgia, Washington had the highest average of 17.2 yards per catch of any significant tight end prospect in this class. At his massive size, Washington ran a 4.64-second 40-yard dash and a 4.08-second short shuttle at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Prior to playing for the Cyclones in college, Will McDonald IV attended Casimir Pulaski High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Wakuesha North High School in Waukesha, Wisconsin, both in his prep career. McDonald broke Von Miller’s Big 12 career sack record during his time with Iowa State, recording 34 sacks and 40.5 tackles for loss.
At Iowa State’s pro day, McDonald reportedly ran a 4.66-second 40-yard dash and a 6.79-second three-cone, achieving impressive times in drills that are often highly believed to be connected with success in the NFL. The main issue scouts have with McDonald is that he only registered at 239 pounds in Indianapolis, but he is said to have gained six more pounds since the combine.
McDonald is currently the 43rd overall prospect in the draft, which puts him in play for the Packers’ second-round pick.
Packers are expected to announce more official visits in the coming weeks.
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