Dangerous Trio Forming in MIami Backfield with DeAndre Washington - PLAYER PROFILE

By: Ron Hiatt

Newly acquired Miami Dolphins running back DeAndre Washington went to high school at Thurgood Marshall High in Texas and got offers from Arizona, Baylor, Boise State, Colorado, and committed to Texas Tech. At Texas Tech, Washington was a teammate of current Dolphins wide receiver Jakeem Grant and KC quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and formed a very dangerous offense with Kliff Kingsbury as the head coach. At 5’8 1/4” 210 Washington is a compact runner. Pre-draft measurables of a 4.49 40 time, 34 ½ vertical, 9’10” broad jump, 24 reps, and a 7.03 3-cone makes Washington an explosive player.
 
Washington was drafted by the then Oakland Raiders in the 2016 draft in the 5th round as pick 143. Washington finished his senior year with 1,492 yards rushing, 14 touchdowns, 385 yards receiving,  and a pair of scoring receptions, which earned him 1st team all-Big Ten honors and finished 5th all-time at Texas Tech in rushing. Washington’s rookie year had him 3rd on the depth chart in his 2nd year Oakland brought in Marshawn Lynch. Last season, Oakland traded Washington to KC then drafted Josh Jacobs in the 1st round.

Washington was cut in KC then brought back to the practice squad. Washington was then traded to the Dolphins before the trade deadline swapping a 7th and Washington for a 6th in 2021. In Miami, Washington rejoins Grant and an opportunity to earn a feature role. Viewed primarily as a 3rd down change of pace back his whole NFL career, Washington looks to prove that view wrong in Miami. 
 
With Jordan Howard ineffective Washington competes with rookie Salvon Ahmed, Patrick Laird who is dealing with an ankle injury, and Matt Breida nursing a hamstring. I think Washington can emerge as the hot hand at home against the Chargers on Sunday. I think Jordan Howard will be a healthy scratch as Ahmed was more dynamic by far.
 
Washington might not get the start but in the game against the Chargers this week, yet I believe he is the prototype for this Dolphins offense. Miami's offense is similar in many ways to what Washington ran in Texas Tech with RPOs and a mobile quarterback that fits his style. Washington offers more speed to go with his vision and is a hard runner inside the tackles despite his size. He now has opportunity  in Miami with those injuries, and arrives in Miami at the right time to shine. I think Washington, along with Tua Tagovailoa and Grant will resemble that dangerous trio at Texas Tech we saw with Mahomes, Grant, and Washington, only here in Miami with a lefty QB.

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