Questions about Montrell Washington were answered in one game

After the NFL Draft concluded on Saturday, there were conflicting grades when it came to the nine players selected by the Broncos. Some people loved what Denver did, while others were a little less impressed.

Those falling into the second, more pessimistic category typically had the same complaint. They believed that George Paton reached on picks, accusing the Broncos general manager of taking players earlier than he needed.

One of the picks most often cited was Montrell Washington. The 5-foot-9, 181-pound wide receiver out of Samford was projected as a seventh-round pick or perhaps even an undrafted free agent. Denver took him in the fifth round with the 162nd-overall selection.

It all comes down to a question about how drafts are graded. Should it be based on value? Or is it more important to evaluate team needs and fit?

On the latter front, the Broncos are optimistic about Washington. They need someone who can add some explosiveness to their special teams, both as a kick and punter returner. There’s no doubt that Washington can do just that; he’ll have the first shot at replacing Diontae Spencer in that role.

But ultimately, the grades in May don’t matter. It’s about who can play in August and beyond.

Some have questioned whether Washington’s explosive game will translate from tiny Samford to the NFL. They doubt whether a small-school player can make that leap.

Well, one game in particular should answer those questions. In November, Samford traveled to Gainesville to take on Florida. They were seen as a sacrificial lamb, just another school coming into “The Swamp” for the pay day and not a legit game.

It didn’t quite work out that way. The Bulldogs gave the Gators a scare, leading at halftime before eventually falling 70-52 in a good, old-fashioned shootout.

In the game, Washington was the star for Samford. He scored on a run, a receptions and a return. All told, he threw for 16 yards, rushed for 19 more, caught 10 passes for 124 yards and had 179 kick return yards. That’s a grand total of 338 all-purpose yards, against a star-studded team from the SEC.

Here are Washington’s highlights from the game:

Broncos new WR/RS Montrell Washington vs. Florida was a sight to behold pic.twitter.com/8l5PAJrcUo

— Sayre Bedinger (@SayreBedinger) April 30, 2022

The diminutive wideout certainly didn’t appear overmatched. He held his own against big-time competition. He was arguably the best player on the field.

One game doesn’t define a career. But it certainly answers a lot of questions.

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