Draft superlatives for Steelers extremely impressive 2023 class

Steelers best value pick: Darnell Washington

This almost was my favorite pick of the draft, but the need for Jones is what gave him the ultimate edge. That said, Darnell Washington presented great value in the late third round of the draft. Tight end wasn’t the biggest need for this team, but Washington fits what this team wants to do this season.

What stands out about Washington is his immense size. He uses that to his advantage, as he was the best blocker in this draft. While not overly relied on, he was a safe receiver that tested as a plus athlete. His floor, assuming his health checks out, is a great second tight end that specializes in blocking. His ceiling is a dynamic do it all tight end.

As stated before, there are some health questions that seemingly are hanging over the head of Washington. Pittsburgh cleared him though, and he presents a mismatch already as a rookie. He also allows the team to utilize more heavy sets which should further improve their running game.

On top of all of this, the Steelers traded back in the third round and recouped the fourth-round pick that they gave up in the Jones grade. That was just the cherry on top of the impressive value that Washington already presented. You could make an argument for a few names, but Washington has to be viewed as the best value pick in this class.