When the Steelers drafted Georgia tight end Darnell Washington in the third round, Pittsburgh fans already saw utopian visions of the 6-foot-7 freak running side-by-side with emerging star TE Pat Freiermuth in Pittsburgh. As a willing, suffocating blocker and gazelle running down the field with 4.64 speed, many were surprised to see Washington’s name on the board at Pick 80.
Pittsburgh did not necessarily have a glaring need at tight end when it nabbed the two-time national champion, having re-signed Zach Gentry and drafted Connor Heyward last season. But, the selection of Washington was not merely because he was the “best player available”; rather, it signified an immediate shift in the Steelers’ offensive MO in 2023.