The Pittsburgh Steelers like investing in their own players. They also like spending on tight ends. In 2024, they extended Pat Freiermuth to a four-year, $48.4 million extension. Then last year, they made a trade that, in part, netted them tight end Jonnu Smith in the Minkah Fitzpatrick-Jalen Ramsey trade and promptly extended Smith by an additional year for a bit over $12 million.
A year later, Smith has been cut, and Pittsburgh has moved on to a new head coach and offensive philosophy. Speaking of that philosophy, in 2022, when Mike McCarthy had two quality tight ends in Dalton Schultz and Jake Ferguson, they ranked 8th in 12 personnel usage. Four years later and now in Pittsburgh, he once again has a quality one-two pairing to complement their receiving duo of D.K. Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr.
Keeping Washington on the field is a low-key force multiplier. While tight ends are regularly billed as "sixth offensive linemen", few actually meet that descriptor. Washington is the exception to that rule. He is legitimately a fantastic blocker. And looking at his efficiency as a receiver, he's better than his public reputation would have you believe. Among all tight ends who have played in the last three seasons, here are his percentile ranks:
Targets/Route Run | Yards/Route Run | 1st Downs/Target | Yards/Rec | Catch Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
49th percentile | 55th percentile | 54th percentile | 76th percentile | 55th percentile |
All of this leads to a compelling case for the Steelers to try to lock Washington into a long-term deal. What could that deal look like?
Darnell Washington's Value
Because Washington hasn't posted gaudy volume stats - just 57 catches, 625 yards and two touchdowns over three years - the Steelers have a chance to extend him at a value. His primary value in terms of cost will be centered on his blocking prowess, with the top of the market currently at Josh Oliver and Charlie Kolar, both around $8 million per year.
Washington offers more receiving upside than the other two, even though his production to date has been in line. A look at their three-year production profiles leading up to their recent contracts (and Washington's hypothetical extension this offseason).
Player | Receptions | Yards | yds/rr | 1st Downs | TD's |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Darnell Washington (2023-2025) | 57 | 625 | 1.24 | 29 | 2 |
Charlie Kolar (2023-2025) | 26 | 360 | 1.76 | 18 | 4 |
Josh Oliver (2022-2025) | 58 | 620 | 1.29 | 33 | 7 |
Oliver's production in the three-year lead-up to his 2025 contract is nearly identical to Washington's over the past three seasons. But Washington has youth on his side while also coming off a year where he set career highs with 31 catches and a 1.79 yards/route run mark. The Oliver contract could work as a template to build upon.
A three-year extension for $29 million would place Washington's APY at $9.67 million. It would still anchor him as TE2 in Pittsburgh, keeping him behind Freiermuth. Factoring in the final year of his rookie contract makes the full deal four years and $32,674,000 with an effective APY of $6,534,000. $13 million of that would be fully guaranteed, giving the Steelers an out after 2027 should they so choose.
Getting in early with contract extensions is how good teams find advantages. When those players are potentially undervalued, it's even better. Washington checks both boxes. Pittsburgh should punce while they can.