The story of the USC Trojans at the NFL draft was hard to believe on many levels. Caleb Williams being picked first was drama-free, predictable, and long-anticipated. Nearly every other USC story at the 2024 draft was insane. The absurdity and improbability of the draft were captured in this one fact: Solomon Byrd and Jarrett Kingston were both picked before Tahj Washington, even though Washington had by far the best 2023 season of the three and had seemingly positioned himself for a good draft position. Byrd and Kingston had low-impact seasons for USC in 2023, and yet they were taken ahead of Washington. It just doesn’t make sense.
We reminded everyone about the last time a USC receiver was snubbed and not respected in the NFL draft:
“Tahj Washington entered the 2024 NFL draft as a mystery. Would teams dismiss his sterling competitive qualities or show that they knew he is a baller who should produce in the pros? We saw a few years ago that NFL teams discounted Amon-Ra St. Brown and his competitive chops as a receiver. St. Brown fell all the way to Day 3 of the draft, becoming the No. 112 pick in the fourth round. The Detroit Lions got an absolute steal and just rewarded St. Brown with a massive contract extension.”
No one listened. Now Washington has a lot to prove. If he answers the bell the way St. Brown did with the Lions, we hope NFL teams won’t ignore USC receivers ever again at the draft.
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