When Mike McCarthy was hired as the replacement for Mike Tomlin as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, fans had many immediate reactions about what it could mean for the current roster and direction of the franchise. Would Aaron Rodgers come back to reunite with his old coach? Well...yes. Would the Steelers be aggressive in adding veterans to make another run with their aging core? Again...yes, for the most part.
For me, though, one of the first thoughts that popped into my head was "how does this impact Darnell Washington's future?"
Well, luckily for Washington, the answer is that it doesn't. Just days after fellow 2023 draft steal Nick Herbig signed a four-year, $100 million deal to stay in Pittsburgh long-term, "Mount" Washington inked his own four-year contract for a more modest $42 million.
While that price tag looks exorbitant for a tight end with just 625 career receiving yards and two touchdowns, the Steelers aren't paying him to catch passes (even if it's incredibly fun to watch when he does). Instead, they are paying him to be one of the NFL's most unique players at any position: a 6'7", 300+ pound wrecking ball.
Pittsburgh Steelers put their faith in the uniqueness of Darnell Washington
If you asked someone who had never seen Washington play what position they would guess he is listed at, you might get four or five answers deep before tight end is mentioned. That's what happens when a player goes from being 264 pounds at the NFL Combine to a reportedly 311 pounds last season.
Watching him move around that size is truly a sight to behold. He may not have the 4.64 speed he displayed at the Combine, but he can still build up serious speed if given the space to do so. He hasn't gotten many chances to show it, but he is a truly unique weapon with the ball in his hands because of his athleticism at his size.
That unique build for a tight end translates best as a blocker, where his strength and size make him a rare example of the "sixth offensive lineman" moniker being legit. His contract reflects that, as his $10.5 million per year average makes him the highest-paid blocking-centric tight end in the league.
The reason I was worried about what McCarthy's hiring would mean for Washington is his usual preference for pass-catching tight ends. But clearly, he has a plan to continue weaponizing him in the offense, and I think the Steelers are better off for it.
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