Before Ar'Darius Washington's final college season at TCU, multiple draft publications projected him a future Ravens draft pick … in the first round.
So when Washington didn't hear his name called in the first five rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft, he left his family and went to his room to be alone. He didn't want to talk to anyone, and he ultimately didn't get picked by anyone.
In addition to the usual scouts and coaches, it took phone calls from Marlon Humphrey and former Raven Patrick Queen to recruit Washington to Baltimore. Pro Football Focus declared Washington as the top undrafted free agent gem, but he was still salty and confused. How could this happen?
"Size. That's the only thing I could see," the 5-foot-8 Washington said. "I ain't gonna lie, that sent me to a dark place. I was in dark place for about four months."
A year later, Kyle Hamilton also had an extended wait, though his was in the draft's green room. When the big-bodied Notre Dame product that numerous draft analysts had ranked in their top 5 overall slid to No. 14, the Ravens pounced.
Fast forward and the Ravens are mighty thankful to have both. One supposedly too tall, the other supposedly too short, Hamilton and Washington are sizing up as a strong safety duo that has been a major factor in turning around Baltimore's pass defense.
Since Week 11, the Ravens defense ranks first in expected points added (EPA) per dropback, among several other key stats. Baltimore gave up 294 passing yards per game through the first 11 weeks. They've given up 182 per game since.
"I think part of it is having 'K-Ham' back there. He stabilizes that unit, stabilizes the defense in the back end," Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr said. "And then I just think the emergence of Ar'Darius Washington. … I think when we finally gave him his opportunity, he went out there and made the most of it, and I think he's really become a real good NFL starting-caliber safety."
Hamilton's strong play isn't surprising. Sure, there were some questions about whether the 6-foot-4 monster could hang with wide receivers in deep coverage, but he was a first-team All-Pro last season. He's widely recognized as one of Baltimore's best players.
Washington's emergence as a starter was not in the 2024 blueprint – not with Marcus Williams patrolling the deep secondary and the addition of Eddie Jackson in free agency. In the Ravens' season opener in Kansas City, Washington played just five defensive snaps. On one, he leapt high to break up a potential touchdown catch by Chiefs first-round rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy.
Whenever Washington has gotten the opportunity and been healthy, he's made plays. Staying healthy has been the problem.
After making the 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie and playing in three games, Washington suffered a season-ending foot injury. The following year, he was waived during roster cuts and signed back to the practice squad. He was elevated to play in three games, but didn't sign to the active roster until the playoffs.
Last season, Washington started the season as a key slot defender and played well in the first two games, logging a sack, two passes defensed, and 11 tackles. But he suffered a chest injury in that second game that sent him to injured reserve until January. He again returned to play on special teams in the playoffs.
Washington said he always thought he'd be a starter someday, but when he was going through so many injuries, even he questioned whether he'd ever be healthy enough to see it come to fruition. But that didn't stop him from trying.
"I think A.D.'s probably had one of the hardest roles," cornerback Marlon Humphrey said. "He's had to make the team every single year in training camp three years in a row. If you ask anyone around here who's had the best camp the past three years, it's probably A.D."
Knock on wood, Washington has remained healthy this year. And with the Ravens secondary giving up too many big plays against the Bengals in a wild 35-34 Week 10 win against the Bengals, it was time to make a change.
Head Coach John Harbaugh was the one who let Washington know he was going to take over as a starting safety going into the Ravens' Week 11 game in Pittsburgh. Harbaugh told him on the practice field on Friday, two days before the game.
Finally, after going undrafted and dealing with frustrating injuries, he got the nod in his fourth NFL season.
"I think right from the get-go, he showed that he was a good player. He's always been one of those guys that, 'It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog,' kind of guy, and he's always had that fight," Harbaugh said.
"Really, it's been injuries that's set him back over the years. For him to be healthy now, and to get a chance to get in there and show what he can do, it's been great to see. … He's been forged by all of those experiences."
Washington has been scrapping his entire life. He grew up the youngest of five siblings – four boys and one girl. He was always the smallest and his brothers were always fighting.
One day, he was in their back room fighting with a brother who is a year older than him. His brother grabbed his shirt and was beating him up. So another brother, who was just watching this all go down, suggested that Washington take his shirt off.
"So I took my shirt off and then I got the best of him," Washington said. "Growing up, I had to have that heart for sure and that toughness."
Washington was almost always the smallest player on the football field, and that's certainly the case in the NFL. That hasn't stopped him frow dishing out some monster hits, however.
"I got something that you can't measure and that's heart," Washington said. "You can't be scared to mess up, regardless of whatever your size is, or however big or small or fast you are, it doesn't really matter. Like we out there to compete, out there to play."
In his first start against the Steelers, Washington had to make a couple open-field tackles on tight end Darnell Washington, who measures in at 6-foot-7, 264 pounds. Washington cut him down both times as part of his team-high 12 tackles.
"I was just like, 'Bruh, it's either me or him.' It was between us and the end zone," Washington said. "So I was like, you know what, I'll put my body on the line for it."
Washington made two tackles for loss against the Eagles, closed the game out with an interception against the Giants, punched a fumble out from Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson inside the 5-yard line in the rematch, then drilled Texans running back Joe Mixon just short of the end zone on fourth down last week.
"That's just who he is," Hamilton said. "He doesn't know how big he is. He's going to hit you no matter what."
Washington has earned major respect from his teammates. Veteran outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy said Washington is his favorite player on the team.
"I see myself in him," Van Noy said. "I see that chip on his shoulder. I see a good football player. I see somebody who just loves football, has a knack for it, just makes plays. It doesn't matter where you put him – nickel, you could put him at corner, I'm sure if you put him at nose tackle he would legit find a way. He would do whatever it took."
After the Ravens' 35-14 win in New York, linebacker Roquan Smith said he loved seeing Washington make the game-ending interception. Smith said Washington has the best "bunnies" (vertical leap) on the team, but couldn't resist a short joke.
"He needs it for his height," Smith said with a laugh. "But he's a damn good player. ... I have a lot of respect for 'AD,' the type of player he is and the type of person that he is. On a daily [basis], he busts his tail, never asks for any handouts, go gets everything out the mud. ... 'This kid, oh, [he's] too short, too small. Oh, maybe not this or maybe not that.' He has the mentality [of] 'F everything. I'm going to prove it play in and play out.'"
Cornerback Brandon Stephens came into the league with Washington and said the first thing he noticed about him was his hunger. Stephens was a third-round pick and hybrid defensive back, just like Washington. While Stephens got his chance early, Washington had to wait, but Stephens knew this would be the outcome.
"I think it's the way he approaches every day, the way he prepares, the hunger that he has," Stephens said. "He's always had a chip on his shoulder. He stays hungry and wants to prove so many people wrong."
Now it's more about proving people right. The fact that he went undrafted will always irk Washington, but believes he's where he's supposed to be and now he's thriving.
"They believe in me. They trust in me," Washington said. "Go out there and show them why. The season's not over yet. I want to finish out strong and we got a long way to go."
