When the Pittsburgh Steelers selected tight end Darnell Washington in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft, it was seen as a steal by most pundits. Washington is a remarkable athlete with strong blocking skills, but he is still developing as a pass catcher. This was evident last season when he played the most snaps of any tight end on the roster (511) but was targeted only 10 times in the passing game.
Washington is confident that this season will be different for him and he expects to have a breakout year. During OTAs, he expressed his optimism about the upcoming season, citing his increased knowledge of the NFL and a better grasp of the game compared to his rookie year.
While Washington is looking to make a big impact this season, he acknowledges the competition for targets on the team. New offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is bringing a more tight-end-friendly offense to Pittsburgh, but with players like Pat Freiermuth and Connor Heyward also vying for targets, Washington will need to work hard to earn his opportunities on the field. The upcoming season promises to be an exciting one for Washington and the Steelers as they look to make their mark in the NFL.