While the major splashes from free agency have calmed down for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the focus is still on what new players will make the team. Signing rumors are giving way to draft talk, so the focus isn’t on retaining your own talent quite yet.
That will change soon, as the Steelers have a handful of players expecting a new contract this summer.
Chris Boswell should become the highest-paid kicker in the NFL, while Joey Porter will get a healthy pay raise before the start of the new league year. Names like Nick Herbig and Keeanu Benton are less likely to get a deal, but they are still on the short list for extensions.
After the top two names, though, Darnell Washington feels like the next most likely name to ink a new deal. Based on the offseason, that price tag has just gone up.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will have to pay more for Darnell Washington after this offseason
While Washington getting a new deal no longer feels like a lock with the new coaching staff in place, he still feels like a guy who will be a pivotal part of the offense. Extending him now would make sense.
As a blocker first, his value isn’t as high as a typical top tight end. That said, we saw the receiving value expand last year. When it comes to blocking, I’m not sure if anyone is better than him.
Early in free agency, news broke that Charlie Kolar signed a 3-year deal worth $8.1 million a season, while Daniel Bellinger signed a similar 3-year deal worth $8 million a year. Neither has been notably productive in the pros.
Bellinger is a receiver first and is coming off his best season, with only 286 yards receiving. Kolar is considered a blocking tight end first and has never had more than 142 yards in a season.
Washington blew both of those numbers out of the water last year, and he is the best blocker of the three.
Both Bellinger and Kolar signed early in free agency. There was quite a bit of demand for their services. If Washington hits free agency next year, the demand will likely be high.
For the Steelers, if they want to keep Washington long-term, they need to get a deal done this summer. No, he won’t break the bank, but a deal worth $9-$10 million a year feels realistic. That is a jump from a lot of projections earlier in the year.
If anyone should be thrilled with the tight end jump in pay, it should be Washington. He is one of the most unique players in the league, and we saw fewer options get paid this year. His value has just gone through the roof, and he didn’t have to do a single thing.