PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers have interest in re-signing four from the 2023 draft class before they enter the final years of their rookie deals. They are 50% there, after reportedly agreeing with tight end Darnell Washington Wednesday night. What Darnell said of the changes in 2026 & Mike McCarthy on his tight end.
In Washington’s rookie season he seemed to labor through the easy practice drills. His knee, which caused the 6’7” tight end from Georgia to drop to the third round, was obviously still bothering him. Yet he played in all 17 games and improved. In year two the mobility was much different, by last year he was taking reps away from Jonnu Smith, who had a record season the year prior, and Pat Freiermuth, who had a signed a huge contract. He started a career-high 13 games and played 57% of the offensive snaps.
Washington caught 31 passes for 364 yards and a touchdown, but his blocking was growing more and more devastating. That is what kept him on the field and even before reportedly getting a new contract, he wasn’t hunting big stats. He knows his place.
“Everybody has a different role,” Washington said. “I’m not going to sit here and act like I’m a pass-catching tight end, I know I’m more on the blocking side, it’s just something God gave me.”
He also made the comment that when you are able to run the ball, with him being a key part of it, opportunities will present themselves for the entire passing game.
At 6’7”, nearly 300 pounds he can get vertical with improved hands. And with new receivers Michael Pittman and Germie Bernard, he can help block downfield.
“Love Darnell, he's been here every day, in the classroom, good student, he's a pro’s pro,” said Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy. “I've been very impressed with him.”
“He's done everything we've asked. I know I keep saying this, it's year one that you get to know your players, go to certain schemes, you may tilt one way or the other variations of schemes, and definitely we've been doing that with our tight ends, and he's a big part of that reason.”
Darnell Washington signs contract extension
There isn’t a battle this year to be the second tight end. It’s Freiermuth and Darnell and as McCarthy stated Washington has been studying to learn the new offense and thinks it might even open up some route trees for him. He believes early on the coaches trust him.
As he was getting to know his new head coach, an early interaction with McCarthy really made an impression. The 24-year-old said it was in the first days of installing phase one of the offense and McCarthy came over and sat down with him and they just talked. Going into his fourth season, Washington said he appreciated the effort his coach made and that there were no barriers to talking to the new leader.
It took a little time, but Washington opened eyes and Wednesday he was rewarded.
‘I know I’m more on the blocking side, it’s just something God gave me’
‘I know I’m more on the blocking side, it’s just something God gave me’
