Packers: Darnell Washington is perfect Marcedes Lewis replacement

Marcedes Lewis is one of the unsung heroes of the Green Bay Packers‘ offense.

Lewis is a phenomenal blocker and has helped create many big plays for the Packers during the Matt LaFleur era.

He is also a capable pass-catcher, catching six touchdowns since LaFleur became head coach.

However, Lewis turns 39 in May and is set to become a free agent at the start of the new league year next week.

The reality is that Green Bay could have to find a replacement for Lewis this offseason.

Fortunately, they could have that opportunity during April’s draft.

Georgia’s Darnell Washington is one of the best tight end prospects in this year’s draft class, and he could be a perfect replacement for Lewis in Green Bay.

“He’s like Marcedes Lewis with a jetpack,” NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said on the “Pat McAfee Show”.

And it’s easy to see the comparisons between the two players.

Washington is 6-foot-7, 264 pounds, and is a dominant blocker. Sound familiar? Lewis is 6-foot-6, 267 pounds, and is one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL.

What’s so impressive about Washington is his incredible athleticism.

According to Kent Lee Platte’s Relative Athletic Score metric, Washington earned a score of 9.90 out of 10.

Washington led all tight ends in the 20-yard shuttle at the NFL Scouting Combine, recording an impressive time of 4.08 seconds. He had the third-best time at any position.

Yes, Washington is an excellent blocker, but there is a lot more to his game. He is also a talented pass-catcher and would be a great red-zone target for either Aaron Rodgers or Jordan Love.

As you can see in the video above, Washington made an incredible one-handed catch during the combine.

In his final season at Georgia, Washington made 28 catches for 454 yards and two touchdowns.

If Marcedes Lewis isn’t re-signed by the Packers this offseason, Darnell Washington would be a perfect replacement in the opening couple of rounds of April’s draft.