NFL Network's Path to the Draft attempted to find an ideal draft prospect to pair with young quarterbacks across the league. Among the names was San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who Bucky Jones paired with wide receiver James Washington from Oklahoma State.
"Every time you turn on the tape, this guy is running past Big 12 defenders," Brooks said. "His ability to get over the top is unparalleled. You see him separate, you see him make big plays down the field. That's the element that is missing in the 49ers offense. James Washington on the outside? I like him."
NFL.com projects Washington to be a second- or third-round selection in this month's draft. In four seasons with the Cowboys, he hauled in 225 passes for 4,467 yards with 39 receiving touchdowns. Washington surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in each of his last three years at Oklahoma State while getting into the end zone 10-or-more times in each of those seasons.
Washington's best statistical year was in 2017 as a senior. He registered 74 receptions for 1,549 yards with 13 receiving touchdowns through 13 games. He also had a rushing touchdown.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, the 5-foot-11 and 213-pound Washington had a 40-time of 4.54 seconds, a vertical jump of 34.5 inches, a broad jump of 120 inches, and completed the three-cone drill in 7.11 seconds. He also had 14 reps in the bench press, a 20-yard shuttle time of 4.32 seconds, and a 60-yard shuttle time of 11.56 seconds.
The 49ers' current starting wide receivers are slated to be Pierre Garçon and Marquise Goodwin. Garçon had 40 receptions for 500 yards through eight games in 2017 before a neck injury ended his season. Goodwin, who signed a three-year extension on March 8, was the 49ers' leading receiver and had 56 receptions for 962 yards with two touchdowns in 16 starts.
