Excitement was high following the Pittsburgh Steelers’ selection of former Georgia standout tight end Darnell Washington in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Ultimately, that excitement didn’t translate to the field in his rookie season as Washington was primarily a blocking tight end and didn’t move all that well as a route runner.
That could — and should — all change in 2024 for Washington now that he’s playing under offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who loves to utilize tight ends in the passing game.
That pairing with Smith is a big reason why CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan highlighted Washington as the Steelers’ “under the radar” player with star potential ahead of the 2024 season.