Miami Dolphins select Tahj Washington in seventh round of 2024 NFL Draft
One of the favorite targets of the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft will look to serve in the same role at the next level. As USC wide receiver Tahj Washington has been selected with the No. 241 overall pick in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.
Washington played high school football at Marshall High School (TX) where he was a three-star prospect, ranked the No. 1,708 overall recruit and the No. 242 wide receiver in the country in the 2019 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
He spent the first two seasons of his college career at Memphis, named a First-Team Freshman All-American after breaking out for 43 receptions, 743 yards, and six touchdowns in his redshirt freshman season. Ranking second in program history for receiving yards as a freshman and leading all freshmen in the nation for the 2020 season.
Washington decided to transfer to USC ahead of the 2021 season, becoming a three-year starter for the Trojans that made a huge impact for their offense. Highlighted by his breakout season last year where he led the team with 59 catches for 1,062 yards along with eight touchdowns. Also making an impact in the kickoff return game throughout his career with 23 returns for 438 yards.
He only stands at 5-foot-10, 174 pounds, but Washington’s quickness made him one of the most explosive wideouts in the country. Making numerous one-handed catches throughout his career with just one drop in 2023, also proving his durability by never missing a single game in his career due to injury.
What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Tahj Washington
NFL analyst Lance Zierlein gave Washington a fifth-round grade ahead of the draft. But between his ability as a slot receiver, returner, and even a gunner on punt team, he still believes Washington could provide value on Sundays the same way he did on Saturdays during his college career.
“Washington’s measurables could work against him during the evaluation process, but his competitiveness and consistency should balance that out somewhat. He is a slot-only prospect with ordinary burst but above-average route acumen. He rarely creates big separation windows but makes up for it with an impressive win rate on contested catches,” Zierlein said. “He’s fearless into the middle of the field and is a willing run blocker out of three-wide receiver sets. Washington is a talented return man and has some real dog in him on coverage teams. He should go on Day 3 and will fight for a roster spot as a WR5 with special teams value.”