2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Casey Washington, WR, Illinois
Player Data
| Name, Jersey # | Casey Washington, #14 |
| School (Code) | ILUN |
| DOB, Class Yr | N/A, Fifth-Year Senior. |
| Height, Weight | 6010, 200 |
| 40 Yd Dash | 4.58 |
| Position/Depth | WR, #1 |
| Honors/Captainship | N/A |
| Season Viewed (yr) | 2023 |
| Games Watched | ILNW, @IAUN, INUN, NEUN |
| Scout Name / Date | Ryan Vidales 12/14/23 |
Per Year Stats
| 2023 | 12 GP (12 GS), 49 Rec, 670 Rec Yds, 4 Rec TD |
| 2022 | 13 GP (3 GS), 31 Rec, 306 Rec Yds |
| 2021 | 12 GP, 21 Rec, 294 Rec Yds |
| 2020 | 8 GP, 10 Rec, 106 Rec Yds |
| 2019 | 10 GP, 11 Rec, 132 Rec Yds |
Player Summary:
Fifth-year senior with competitive height/weight measurements, a well-developed upper half, and athletic lowers. Took the majority of his snaps at the outsize Z spot but also collected snaps out of the slot. Has valuable position versatility to play in either spot. Intelligent route runner; Possesses proficient COD and stop-start ability to stem before reaching the top of his route. Fluidly changes tempo to extend his cushion within the first ten yards. Swift burst/acceleration to get DBs on their hells before snapping off the route with zero wasted motion. Creative and deceptive with his releases. Difficult to read coming off the ball. High IQ receiver with an instinctive feel for spotting soft spots in zone coverage. Mostly targets the short and intermediate ranges, where he utilizes his route-running acumen, initial quickness, and twitch to locate openings underneath the defense. Requisite play speed and long speed to turn short receptions into explosive plays. Has the necessary long speed to create separation and stretch the field vertically. Exhibits strong ball skills and dependable hand-catching ability in traffic. Uses sharp hand-eye coordination to reel in contested catches and tipped balls. Boasts decent arm length but remains aggressive at the catch point with high-quality ball skills and visible competitiveness in one-on-one situations. Active blocker downfield and on screens. Operates with adequate play strength at the POA but moves defenders using solid effort and toughness on the perimeter. Produced modest receiving numbers over his first four seasons. A lack of consistent production will hurt his draft stock. However, his 2023 tape proved he could be an impactful receiver when given an expanded role in a pass-heavy offense. Offered a glimpse into his ceiling during the 2023 season and showed that his best football days are still ahead of him. Was not asked to play a ton of special teams at Illinois, but will need to carve out a niche on kickoff and punt coverage to find early playing time at the next level.
Scheme Fit:
His highest upside is in the slot. Can also line up on the outside to expose matchups against smaller cover-2 DBs.
Power Statement:
Washington is an intriguing prospect who recorded moderate receiving production in five seasons but displayed significant ball skills & hands-catching ability, polished route-running technique, high FBI to find openings against zone coverage, and capable play speed to attack defenses at all three levels. He plays with great effort on every snap and willingly serves as a blocker on the perimeter. A prospect worth monitoring during the pre-draft process.