Just How Good Is Nate Washington?

Nate Washington has always been a enigma to Steelers fans. Some (like me) have always had a (maybe unhealthy) fascination with his big-play ability. Other Steelers fans have been constantly frustrated by his tendency to drop passes.

But as big a Washington fan as I am, I have to admit that I was surprised to see that Mike Lombardi's free agent rankings. According to Lombardi, Washington is the second-best free agent receiver available, topped only by Antonio Bryant. To Lombardi, T.J. Houshmandzadeh rates below Washington.

As Lombardi says:

"This is a diamond in the rough. I know he drops too many balls, but he has great vertical speed and has significantly improved as a player. He would be perfect for the Titans."

Admittedly it's not a great free agent class of wide receivers, but if many people in the game think like Lombardi, then Washington is long gone from Pittsburgh--the Steelers can't pay him starter receiver money to be their No. 3 receiver.

But NFL teams need to know what they are getting. If a team is looking for a solid No. 2 receiver who can get deep on most anyone, then Washington would be a great acquisition. But Washington's hands are not consistent enough to be a No. 1 receiver, and he's not nearly as comfortable moving the chains on slant routes as he is at running a fly route.

Washington's catch percentage (percentage of catches on passes thrown his way) according to Football Outsiders was 51 percent this year. It was 52 percent last year and 51 percent in 2006, so it's safe to say that Washington usually catches about half the passes thrown his way, which is one of the worst percentages in the league. Partly that's because Washington runs a lot of deep routes, but it's also because of his questionable hands.

Think of him as an Alvin Harper. When Harper was with Michael Irvin, he was a very productive player as a deep threat that took some attention away from Irvin, but when the Buccaneers tried to make him into a No. 1 receiver, he was a big-time bust. I'd be shocked if any team out there thinks that Washington can be a No. 1, so maybe he will fit for a team like Tennessee where he could give a big-play spark that was lacking.

But if you're looking for a reliable option, it's hard to see him being more valuable than Houshmandzadeh. While Houshmandzadeh is older than Washington and may be starting to head into the downside of his career, he can serve as the man who can make the tough catch on third down. And he's had over 900 yards in each of the past five seasons--Washington has never had more than 630 yards in a season.

Both will be good pickups for somebody, but the team that gets Washington has to know his strengths.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

2-12-2009 @ 12:16PM

IronCity4ever said...

Nate has made some big plays at times over the last few seasons. Nate has also dropped and NOT made some key plays that would have defined him as solid #2 or on some teams a #1 reciever. Pittsburgh will release him in order to lock down players that have been much more consistent and contributed to winning big games.

2-12-2009 @ 12:40PM

A.J. said...

If the Steelers can groom Limas Sweed properly they won't need Washington. Sweed can block like Ward but he needs to catch the ball like Holmes.

2-12-2009 @ 2:00PM

waterlillies10 said...

he stinks just like the rest of the low-life jerk stealers. why does this nfl web site keep talking about these losers, no one cares but the articles about the stealers keep showing up. all the other teams the information is interesting but the bozo stealers not.

2-12-2009 @ 2:18PM

ferrari said...

waterlillies is off his meds again. he must be away from his BK shift.
That said Nate is good but not yet great. I have NO faith in Sweed yet. He hasn't shown a damn thing.

2-12-2009 @ 3:57PM

shawncsh said...

waterlillies10 is a him? that name sounds female to me...oh well...goes with the territory of the team they support.

2-12-2009 @ 3:03PM

Well look it's waterlillies10 again, and as always, bashing the Steelers. It's ok. It must hurt deeply when a franchise that had 5 Superbowl titles goes and gets itself another one. GO STEELERS!

2-13-2009 @ 3:43AM

Thursday Night! said...

Nate is a great 3rd guy. That's it. I do hope he stays with the Steelers, but business is business and he helped us win another Super Bowl, so if he leaves, he leaves with the support of all Steelers fans. Best of luck to him.

2-13-2009 @ 5:18PM

dave said...

Awe , waterlillie are you jealous cause your team sucks and the Steelers won ANOTHER Superbowl.Get used to it sissyboy, go cry to your barbie dolls

2-15-2009 @ 12:02AM

Maxine said...

I love Nate Washington#85, he is a refreshing player, who shows up at game time to play. I've seen him make more plays than I've seen him miss plays or drop or fumble. I wish him God's speed and hope that the Steelers will keep him on as their WR

2-15-2009 @ 4:37PM

Nicki said...

Nate will stay because Sweed has the worst hands in the NFL. Just like Ryan Wilson has the worst eyes in America for stating that Holmes did not have both feet down on the SB winning catch. As far as big catches vs. drops Nate has dropped more than he has caught but he has improved this year and hopefully he is beginning to get some consistancy. He is a much better athlete than Sweed, much faster and understands the system much better. He also has a good repoire with the QB and the rest of the team. But unfortunately Sweed will also be back. I would rather loose at least 2 of the OLman because they are not worth that much

2-16-2009 @ 11:59AM

on another blog raisineddie a stealer fan referred to the stealers as the stillers, perhaps a reference to ben stiller anyway i agree the stealers or stillers as he referred to them are a joke a paper champion ,deal with it zombies

2-18-2009 @ 1:59AM

raisineddie said...

FYI crap for brains, I am not a stealers fan, I'm a Steelers fan, get the spelling right, crybaby. If you and other sh*theads don't know why I call them STILLER'S, then don't yunz come to Western Pa. p.s. kiss my Black and Gold a*s, GO STILLERS

2-17-2009 @ 1:33PM

i am back to continually heap abuse on the stealers, jeff reed plays with wall sockets. and the beat goes on , some of the zealots are writing books. barnes and noble watch out for them , they try to steal your business, haha get it steal like the stealers, i dont take offense zealots my attack is not you but the stillers hahaha

2-18-2009 @ 11:38AM

raisineddie is that from the raisin commercials that used to come out on tv, pendejo, i won't leave my home in east los angeles to visit what did you say west pennsylvania, isn't that where all the putos and hotos are?

2-18-2009 @ 4:14PM

pendejo,hotos,putos? lmao! PLEASE, bring back the rotary phone so we don't have to press 1 to proceeed in English!!!! Waterlillies are where frogs and toads stay, not EastL.A.. Judging by your posts, your not a frog, guess that makes you a toad! Ya wantna know why we call them STILLERS, it's because Art Rooney was a bootlegger during prohibition. He made enough money running his stills and selling the hootch to the mob, that he financed his team with his illegal whiskey money. Believe that and I got some prime real estate in Florida I'd like to sell you. Plenty of waterlillies there, you'll feel at home. Grow up, get a life, and cheer for your own team. Oh, excuse me, LA doesn't have 1, ha ha. Even Al Davis preferred Oakland over LA. LMAO

2-18-2009 @ 6:14PM

now we know the roots of crooked dealings nuff said

2-19-2009 @ 12:42AM

gcn said...

Raisineddie:

You go! I'm normally not in favor of abusing the handicapped, but I make an exception for waterlillies10. In his case, it's pretty funny how he can't read or write. But he tries so hard.

3-03-2009 @ 3:29PM

4thGenSteelerFan said...

Waterwussy-....

First of all it is SteElers...

Why is there so much about The Steelers....let's look at that.

*The only team to win 6 Superbowls
*Record 14 AFC Championship Game Apperences (out of 40 since the merger)
*Steelers and Cowboys (each)sell more merchandise than the other 30 teams COMBINED!
*Steelers have the best winning percentage since the 1970 merger.
*Steelers have the best winning percentage since the introduction of free agency in 1993
*Steeler Nation is the largests Fan Base, WORLDWIDE.
*Steelers Represent the United States Blue Collar work force (and we let in the white collar.)
*Steelers Owners do it right, don't put up with loud mouth players (ex. Joey Porter) or players that are in continious legal trouble. Ex-Steelers stay around Pittsburgh and give back big to their community.
***I am proud to be a Steeler Fan, even in loosing seasons.

Second rate (that would be you)always attacks the best.