GOOD NEWS: Falcons Rookie WR ‘Killing It’ in OTAs, Minicamp.

The rookie receiver Casey Washington is someone the Atlanta Falcons are excited to watch more of.

Rookie wide receiver Casey Washington of the Atlanta Falcons spoke over a microphone while multiple cameras recorded him. With a gesture, he turned to his left and raised his left arm in the air.

Washington remarked, “Drake London, sitting over there,” during the Falcons’ minicamp last week. That’s my teammate, sort of. It’s still absurd.”

Washington had no idea that London had just commended his performance seconds before, as he sat on a hill and talked on his cell phone following the Falcons’ last practice before summer break.

London remarked, “He’s been killing it out there.” His work has been done well. blending in incredibly well.”

There’s really no better way to sum up Washington’s Falcons career than feeling amazed and receiving appreciation from the appropriate people in his immediate vicinity.

After being selected by Atlanta in the sixth round out of Illinois this April, Washington emerged victorious from Atlanta’s OTA and minicamp sessions, which concluded informally in Flowery Branch on June 11.

Washington noted after the practice that he had observed first-round quarterback Michael Penix Jr. from a distance throughout the previous college football season, and the two had a great rapport from the first rookie minicamp session on May 10.

For Washington, that was the beginning of a strange time. Speaking with four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins in the team’s locker room still makes him nervous, he admitted.

Washington has been in Flowery Branch for just over a month and a half as a professional, and his feelings haven’t altered.

“Still being here, you would have thought by this point maybe I settled in and it’s normal for me now, but this is still pretty new,” Washington stated. “Playing in the NFL is incredibly thrilling, but occasionally it’s still surreal to consider.”

“But just to be here every day with my teammates, for me to get better and build relationships with my brothers and try to be the best every day.”

With a strong finish to his senior year and a 39.5-inch vertical combined with a 4.46 40-yard sprint on his pro day, the 6-2, 200-pound Washington caught Atlanta’s attention with his persuasive athletic profile.

Washington caught 27 catches for a total of 295 yards in the first nine games of the 2023 campaign. Even after 52 games, he was still waiting for his first touchdown as a college player.

Washington was an absolute barn burner in his final three games, hauling in 22 passes for 375 yards and four touchdowns. In his final game with the Fighting Illini, he recorded nine receptions for 218 yards and three touchdowns, easily the greatest performance of his career.

Ike Hilliard, the coach of the Falcons receivers, acknowledged that Washington is a guy on the rise, but going ahead, it will be more important to see what he accomplishes than what he has accomplished.

Hilliard said to FalconsSI, “You only get better or worse in this league.” “We aim to reduce the errors. You can’t keep making the same mistakes since that will hinder our progress as a group and lessen your chances of forming a cohesive unit.

“What we like about Casey is that he’s making an effort to fix the issues that need to be fixed. Is he improving every day? Will he be able to pass the exams on a daily basis? That is our desired outcome.

Washington began working with the third- and fourth-string offenses during OTAs following rookie minicamp. He started to fit in with the first- and second-team unit by the middle of OTAs, catching passes from Penix and Cousins.

Hilliard thinks Washington was able to gain more experience and insight into his methods by way of the move, which was masterminded by Falcons head coach Raheem Morris.

Hilliard stated that although Washington, 23, has done a good job with the opportunities he has had so far, the Falcons are hoping for more. They don’t box players when they get there or undervalue their efforts because it took money to hire them.

Workouts in shorts can only reveal so much, and Washington hasn’t participated in padded practices as a professional. However, Hilliard thinks the switch to pads, which occurs during training camp in late July, will highlight some of Washington’s better qualities.

Casey is a tough kid, according to Hilliard. We’ve been unable to put on pads, and he hasn’t had a chance to demonstrate it, but the footage is available. On tape, you can see how aggressive he plays, and I really enjoy that in wide receiver play.”

A key player in Washington’s growth is Hilliard, a former NFL pass catcher whose viewpoint and ability to teach the game in various ways have garnered accolades from those present.

Zac Robinson, the offensive coordinator who came over from the Los Angeles Rams to replace Morris, is also excited about calling plays for the first time in his coaching career.

Robinson comes from a system in Los Angeles where receivers have consistently excelled, but he has a long history with the position having played and tutored quarterbacks. The run-heavy offense the Falcons had under head coach and offensive playcaller Arthur Smith is a sharp contrast to this one.

Cooper Kupp, a wide receiver with the Rams, won the triple crown in 2021 by topping all wideouts in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. Puka Nacua, a fifth-round pick, broke numerous rookie records in Los Angeles this past season.

During rookie minicamp, Washington dismissed comparisons to Nacua, but the two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection thinks he fits in Robinson’s system.

“If you look at this offense and where it comes from, there’s some success that can happen in it,” Washington stated. “It’s enjoyable to consider ambitions and potential destinations. The most crucial thing I always remember to do is to simply take each day as it comes.

To break things up, I believe it’s extremely important to just show up and try to be the best version of myself that day. We’ll see where it goes, but it’s getting more comfortable and proficient on the offensive.

According to Hilliard, Washington possesses the qualities and skill set necessary to meet the offensive philosophy of the Rams.

“He has unique hand eye coordination; rare, very strong hands,” Hilliard stated. This offense depends on our receivers being able to play in tight spaces at times, therefore they must be confident in their ability to use their hands to snag the ball out of the air. I believe he’ll act in that manner consistently.”

According to Hilliard, Washington’s and every other receiver’s objective is to improve daily. Washington, who has been working with London and Darnell Mooney this summer, believes he has demonstrated his ability to get up and compete every day.

In terms of gaining a roster position, Washington, a sixth-round pick, acknowledged that he doesn’t have as much leeway with errors as other players. Regardless of the role he plays, he has demonstrated his commitment to giving his all during special teams drills.

Hilliard is aware that mistakes are inevitable. He also understands that a lot of Washington’s are correctable.

“There’s some room for growth as there always will be with younger players,” Hilliard stated. “This is a little bit different from college systems where you flash cards and it tells you to take the hitch route. He has therefore become better every day, as is to be expected.

“Casey just has to play faster in some instances, and that’s going to come with more time on the grass.”

The Falcons will have a six-week break before heading back to Flowery Branch at the end of July for training camp. For rookies, this is their first true vacation since the college season ended abruptly last summer, when practices and games gave way to visits, exercises, and pre-draft camp. After being chosen on April 27, Washington flew to Atlanta for rookie minicamp in less than a week.

However, Washington does not intend to use the time off as a vacation. He intends to spend time in the playbook while honing his technique and attention to detail with routes. Taking care of his mental health is important because he wants to return to the Falcons in fall with the correct mindset and vigor. Essentially, for Washington, the summer vacation is rarely that.

“I’m going to do everything I can this six weeks coming up that we have off,” Washington stated. “I’m going to get my mind right, get my body right and come back the best version I can be.”

It remains to be seen where that finally places him come Week 1. According to Morris, players that put in the most work during their off-season—whether it’s walking through reps or remaining in shape—often reap the rewards of their labor during the season.

Washington intends to be one of them, but he may not play much in an offense where running back Bijan Robinson, tight end Kyle Pitts, London, and Mooney are anticipated to dominate the target share.

His regular season roster status, playing time, and long-term prognosis are all unknown at this point. However, Hilliard and the Falcons appreciate how Washington got off to a good start. It is now his responsibility to maintain the momentum into the fall.

“We’ll just work to hopefully continue to have that growth and limit the mistakes,” Hilliard stated. “And we’ll see what he can do when it’s time to get under the lights and play some football.”