Before the 2023 NFL Draft, there was a decent amount of chatter linking the Pittsburgh Steelers to TE Darnell Washington as early as their first-round pick. They ended up being able to get him at the end of the third round due to medical concerns with his knees. It took about 20 career starts, but the vision for what type of player he can become is starting to get clearer. He isn’t just an extra offensive lineman or strictly a blocking tight end. He is a weapon that can be a true chess piece of an offensive coordinator.
With the Steelers’ win over the New York Giants in Week 8, Washington posted his first “elite” PFF grade of 92.