The Ravens have used the 170th pick to select their second defensive tackle in the 2020 NFL Draft, taking Texas Tech’s Broderick Washington Jr. The selection adds another big body to their already frightening rotation of defensive linemen.
A little undersized for a typical defensive tackle, Washington gets the job done as a run-stuffing interior defensive lineman. Washington utilized his great strength and a bulldog mentality that matches the mean streaks of his opposition to disrupt offensive game plans. He’s a leader, earning team-captain status at Texas Tech.
After looking at some of his plays, he reminds me a bit of Ravens defensive tackle Brandon Williams. He relies primarily on brute force to make his way into the backfield. Washington is a little stiff and inconsistent in both shedding blocks and leverage, which limits his ability to get upfield as a pass rusher.
As a fifth-round pick, it should be pretty obvious that Washington is a developmental depth option. He does some things well and he could polish up into a rotational piece but in a crowded defensive line group, it’ll be difficult seeing him get much playing time early on.
