Steelers draft Darnell Washington: Freakishly big tight end brings a new dimension

Publish date: 2024-05-10

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PITTSBURGH — The Steelers weren’t actively looking for a tight end after having drafted Pat Freiermuth and Connor Heyward in each of the past two drafts and re-signing Zach Gentry. But Darnell Washington was too good to pass up.

The Steelers moved back from No. 8o to No. 93 in the third round, picking up a fourth-round pick from Carolina, and still got their man.

Washington, a big, powerful man who has been called a devastating blocker, came in for a pre-draft visit, meaning all three of the Steelers’ Day 2 picks made a trip to the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex for one of the 30 visits before the draft.

“The Steelers have a great tight end room, and I am adding another great one,” Washington said. “I am not sure how I am going to be used, but I will be ready for it.”

Matt Canada on Darnell Washington. pic.twitter.com/8UeU8CmCAz

— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) April 29, 2023

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Big board ranking

Washington was the 30th prospect in Brugler’s rankings and the fourth-best tight end. He might have fallen down the board because of injury concerns. He experienced swelling in his knee during the NFL Scouting Combine in February, which caused some teams some concern. Washington said that he injured the knee or tore any ligaments.

“He is a giant human being who takes pride in blocking,” offensive coordinator Matt Canada said. “I do believe he can catch balls, but they had so many weapons. He is definitely a blocker.”

Introduction

The youngest of eight kids, Washington and his family moved often and were sometimes homeless because of financial hardships, and he spent three years in a foster home. He was a three-sport star in high school and didn’t start to play football until age 11 but turned into a five-star recruit.

At Georgia, he was rarely used in the passing game, catching only 45 passes in three years, with only three touchdowns.

Still, the Steelers were intrigued enough by him. At last week’s pre-draft news conference, Tomlin made sure to mention the tight end class specifically as being a good group of players. It was somewhat of a surprise he lasted to the 93rd pick.

“No team wanted to take a risk on me, a great player, but Pittsburgh,” Washington said. “And that’s exactly what they got — a great player.”

Washington said he had a “special connection” during his pre-draft visit with the Steelers.

How he fits

Washington is pretty raw with his route running and pass-catching abilities but is capable of doing it. He will excel immediately as the third tight end and inline blocker. That will allow the Steelers to run a power game while having the ability to move Pat Friermuth around the formation to create better matchups. With the Steelers struggling in the red zone at times last year, Washington could also be an option as a red zone target.

“The leanest 270ish pounds I have ever seen on a football field, Washington executes different kinds of blocks with his athletic range and the physical hands to control, drive and steer defenders,” Brugler wrote. “As a receiver, he gives his quarterback a massive catching target and swallows the football, although his long legs can get tied up on redirection routes or when making sharp cuts out of breaks.”

Rookie impact

Washington’s best-case scenario would be to do what he did at Georgia — block, especially against bigger 4-3 defensive ends. That would allow the Steelers to get away from having Connor Heyward inside and be more of a playmaker, which he showed as a rookie. Washington played nearly 70 percent of the snaps last year as an inline tight end/third tackle. The Steelers got away from that last year with the lack of options, but Washington’s size and strength can make that be a part of the plan now.

Depth-chart impact

Washington will be slotted as the fourth tight end behind Freiermuth, Gentry and Heyward to start, but it’s pretty much two separate positions. Gentry and Washington are the blocking tight ends, while Freiermuth and Heyward are the pass-catching tight ends. One of those guys will likely be a game-day inactive, but the offseason will determine that.

Fast evaluation

You have to love how the Steelers have used the draft and free agency so far to bolster a power-running game. They’ve added massive human beings Nate Herbig, Isaac Seuamlo in free agency and Broderick Jones and Darnell Washington in the draft to clear the way for the 230-pound Najee Harris. The Steelers have always valued a blocking tight end, from the days of Matt Spaeth to David Johnson to Gentry and others.

Washington is the first since maybe Mark Bruener who has the upside of being a purposeful pass-catcher as well. You could call this a luxury pick with what they already have, and they still need an edge rusher and depth at inside linebacker, but if Washington is anywhere near where many experts slotted him, then the Steelers got a major steal.

(Photo: Carmen Mandato / Getty Images)

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