At 6-foot-7, 270 pounds, Pittsburgh Steelers rookie tight end Darnell Washington shouldn’t move the way he does on the football field.
The fact that he does, though, makes him an absolutely terrifying and defense-like nightmare.
That size, combined with his overall athleticism and skill, makes the dual-threat tight end Washington believes a non-Day 1 starter sleeper, according to CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso in the AFC. Trapasso wrote that Washington could be a “runaway train” for Pittsburgh in 2023, because of his work after being caught in college, he forced 14 missed tackles in 45 receptions during his time in Athens.
“I can’t get enough of Washington’s encouragement. Send them all my way. Although I realize it’s very different from most en Vogue tight ends today, I respect it as hope. Those forced missed tackles? Trapasso wrote that most of the Angry Runs style isn’t centered around defenders, but about Washington and its potential sleeper impact in 2023. “At just a hair under 6-foot-7 and 264 pounds, with a frame that could easily add another 10. -15 pounds without any explosiveness, Washington will be a runaway train in the NFL. Plus, he’s a devastating defender. Washington is in year 2 of the Kenny Pickett era.” She adds such a fun and unique layer to it.
The hype over Washington continues to gain steam. He landed in the perfect situation in Pittsburgh, where the Steelers like to use 12 personnel, already have a true No. 1 in Pat Freiermuth, and have a great coach to work with and develop under Alfredo Roberts.
He’s probably the second most frequent offensive lineman in the NFL behind former Georgia teammate Broderick Jones, and it’s hard to find negatives at the Washington landing spot.
That said, the NFL is a different game. He may dominate in college with his size and strength, but that won’t be enough in the NFL.
He still has a lot of work to do as a blocker and receiver. He has to clean up his footwork as a barrier, something he has already pointed out, and he has to work on setting up a road tree in general. He can’t rely on his size and athleticism as much as in the NFL.
Still, it’s hard not to be excited about Washington and expect more from him following his fall to the third round due to medical issues. As a blocker, the Steelers will immediately need a physical presence at the tight end, and he can provide some spark after the catch due to his speed and physicality.
He might not be a runaway train right away, but the potential is absolutely there.
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