Dallas Cowboys host Georgia TE Darnell Washington for top-30 pre-draft visit

With the departure of Dalton Schultz to the Texans in free agency this offseason, the Dallas Cowboys are considering several options to fill the gap for 2023 and beyond.

This week, Dallas hosted Georgia Bulldogs star tight end Darnell Washington, according to Nick Eatman of DallasCowboys.com. Washington’s top-30 visit shows that Jerry Jones’ squad is at least somewhat serious about potentially taking a tight end in the first couple of rounds.

Draft experts have mocked either Utah star Dalton Kincaid or Notre Dame star Michael Mayer to Dallas in several pre-draft scenarios, however, the team hasn’t gone for the position in the first round in more than two decades and both are projected first-rounders.

Washington, 6-foot-7, 264-pounds, could still be on the board when the Cowboys come up in the second round at No. 58.

The two-time national champion had a career-high of 28 receptions, 454 yards and two touchdowns in 2022. In 2021, Washington had 154 yards on 10 catches with a touchdown.

The Dallas Cowboys’ list of visitors so far seems to suggest preferences for a wide receiver, offensive lineman, defensive lineman, cornerback and linebacker. However, several tight ends have also checked out the Star recently. They’ve worked out several more wide receivers in private workouts and held meetings with a few quarterbacks. Dallas surprised by taking offensive lineman Tyler Smith in the first round last year, but the choice has panned out thus far.

The NFL’s top-30 visits are reserved for 30 prospects per team and do not involve on-field workouts. They serve as job interviews, on top of medical checkups and meetings with the coaching staff.

More on the 2023 NFL Draft

The 2023 NFL Draft takes place from Thursday, April 27 through Saturday, April 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. The event location this year is the plaza just outside of Union Station.

Round 1 of the NFL Draft begins at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Apr. 27. Rounds 2-3 will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Apr. 28, and Rounds 4-7 will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Apr. 29. The draft broadcast runs throughout the weekend on both ESPN and NFL Network.

Following two trades that cost them two fifth-round compensatory picks (No. 161, No. 169), these are the seven draft picks left on the Cowboys board for April.

• Round 1, No. 26
• Round 2, No. 58
• Round 3, No. 90
• Round 4, No. 128
• Round 5, No. 176*
• Round 6, No. 212*
• Round 7, No. 243

*denotes compensatory pick