Malik Washington has a small build for the wide receiver position, and he lacks the athletic abilities or power to consistently win on the outside, which is why he has primarily played as a slot receiver. Malik is more quick than fast; his speed is good but not elite compared to what is expected with his build. His quickness stands out the most on film. He has good explosiveness, agility, and hips, and he possesses good body control. His power is not a weakness but also not a strong point, mainly due to his lack of arm length, which leads to him being outmuscled when lined up on the outside or facing press coverage.

Against press coverage, Malik Washington struggles to make an impact. Whenever cornerbacks have placed their hands on him, he hasn't fared well. His lack of arm length and power pose issues for him at the line of scrimmage, where he gets jammed and can also be subjected to bump-and-run (A technique used by a DB,aligned in front of a receiver, consisting of a block (bump) on the latter, only during the first 5 yards (beyond that, it's a foul), before following them in their running route.). Against Tennessee (his only game below 100 yards apart from Boston College's 97 yards), his impact was severely limited against the physical builds of the SEC. Similarly, against Louisville, when the cornerbacks played aggressively against him, they managed to shut him down.
Washington excels against zone coverage, utilizing his high football IQ to find and exploit openings in the defense. He demonstrates the ability to create separation and adjust his routes on the fly, providing a reliable option for his quarterback even when plays break down.

He has a well-developed route tree, capable of running quick outs, flat routes, shallow crossers, and more. However, he lacks creativity in his route running, making him somewhat predictable for defenders to read. While he can make an impact on all three levels of the field, his effectiveness deep downfield may be more situational. Nonetheless, he possesses the football IQ, change-of-direction abilities, and route precision necessary to create separation on shorter and intermediate routes. His solid head and shoulder fakes allow him to manipulate defenders and gain separation, particularly with his quickness.

Washington has excellent ball skills, although they are somewhat limited by his lack of arm length, which reduces his catch radius and ability to attack the ball at its highest point. However, he has demonstrated the ability to make catches outside the numbers and execute impressive acrobatic catches. His eye-foot-hand coordination is very good, his ball-tracking ability is impressive, and he maintains solid concentration, allowing him to make adjustments to the ball and secure catches reliably. He has often been used in the backfield or on screens to quickly get the ball in his hands. He is a threat in yards after catch (YAC) situations thanks to his vision and excellent balance upon contact, although his lack of elite speed is noticeable at times.

He struggles in run blocking situations, where once again, his lack of arm length has been a disadvantage, leading to big plays for opposing defenses. Despite his strong commitment, he needs to work on his technique in this aspect.

Malik Washington is an intriguing prospect who had a strong production in 2023, albeit against relatively weak backfields and with a system that provided him with many opportunities. Malik has some very promising tools to excel in the slot for an NFL franchise, thanks to his ball skills and ability to create separation. However, he will need to develop his skills as a returner to have a greater impact on a roster.
I evaluate Malik Washington as a 4th round talent.