The Washington Huskies lost their last four games of the season on their way to a disappointing 4-8 record. Regardless, this year’s Huskies team is sending a number of prospects to the 2022 NFL Draft who could hear their names called fairly early. Here are the scouting reports for every Washington player at the NFL Draft.
Washington 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
The Washington scouting reports include a talented tight end prospect as well as some potential late-round defensive players.
Brendan Radley-Hiles, DB
Positives: Undersized safety who gets the most from his ability. Quickly diagnoses plays, flies around the field, and has a closing burst. Physical, displays good range, and quickly gets to the sidelines. Keeps the action in front of him and remains disciplined with assignments.
Negatives: Hesitant in coverage, better making plays up the field than in reverse, and must improve his ball skills.
Analysis: Radley-Hiles is an intense safety who goes sideline to sideline and sells out. He comes with size and scheme limitations. More than anything else, he must improve his ball skills.
Cade Otton, TE
Positives: Nice-sized tight end who is fluid releasing off the line, displays good route discipline, and uses his frame to shield away opponents. Nicely makes the reception on crossing patterns, catches the ball with his hands, and takes a pounding, yet holds onto the throw. Settles into the open spot of the defense, displays good eye/hand coordination, and possesses soft hands. Shows excellent vision as a blocker, always looks for someone to hit, and works to finish off opponents.
Negatives: Struggles finishing blocks and gets pushed back off the line. Plays to one speed and isn’t a downfield pass-catching tight end. Coming off a disappointing season.
Analysis: Otton was a consistent force at Washington and holds a lot of upside for the next level. He needs to finish his game and be placed in the proper system, but Otton could eventually start on Sundays.
Want more information on Otton? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Cade Otton, Washington TE | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Kyler Gordon, CB
Positives: Explosive corner who is best facing the action. Stays with assignments, quickly diagnoses plays, and has a closing burst to the action. Quick flipping his hips to transition downfield, tracks the pass in the air, and has a nice move to the throw. Shows a lot of ability facing the action and nicely recognizes routes in zone. Fires upfield and gives effort defending run plays and screen passes.
Negatives: Not quick or smooth pedaling in reverse. Not a stout corner and has ball handlers running through tackles. Inconsistent making plays with his back to the ball.
Analysis: Gordon is a nice-sized corner with solid ball skills and a lot of upside. He must polish his game, but he offers potential as a nickel back in zone coverage or backed off the line of scrimmage.
Want more information on Gordon? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Kyler Gordon, Washington CB | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Luke Wattenberg, OL
Positives: Explosive interior offensive lineman with great intensity. Quickly sets up off the snap, gets leverage on opponents, and keeps his feet moving. Correctly places his hands into defenders, keeps them active throughout the action, and does not back down from a challenge. Blocks with proper lean, stays square, and always looks for someone to hit. Turns defenders from the action and steers them from their angles of attack.
Negatives: Struggles finishing blocks. Stiff and lacks agility. Displays average skill on the second level.
Analysis: Wattenberg possesses nice length as well as growth potential that, when met, could help him find a roster spot as a backup interior blocker.
Ryan Bowman, DE
Positives: Undersized defensive end who gets the most from his ability. Smart, instinctive, and plays incredibly hard. Quick off the snap, breaks down well, and uses his hands to protect himself. Quickly collapses down the line of scrimmage to defend the run and easily redirects to the action. Resilient, diagnoses plays, and fights to get out laterally in pursuit.
Negatives: Average athlete with average speed. Has a thin build and limited strength. Easily knocked from his angle of attack.
Analysis: Bowman is a hard-working prospect with terrific football intelligence and intensity. He lacks size and growth potential and comes with marginal athleticism that will limit him at the next level.
Trent McDuffie, CB
Positives: Athletic corner with next-level ball skills. Engages receivers at the line of scrimmage, quickly flips his hips in transition, and runs downfield with opponents. Stays with assignments, effectively covers receivers on crossing patterns, and displays a burst to the ball.
Keeps the action in front of him, works to get his head back around to locate the pass, and effectively times pass defenses. Effective backed off the line of scrimmage and shows the ability to drive to the ball out of his plant. Fires up the field and gives effort defending screen passes.
Negatives: Not a stout cornerback. Struggles recognizing routes in zone coverage and gets tripped up. Loses out to bigger receivers.
Analysis: McDuffie is a shutdown corner who has shown tremendous potential as well as progress in his game. He offers ability backed off the line of scrimmage or in man coverage and only needs to get a little stronger. Nevertheless, he should be starting early in his NFL career.
Want more information on McDuffie? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Trent McDuffie, Washington CB | NFL Draft Scouting Report