Steelers Now
Colin Cowherd of FS1 ripped the Pittsburgh Steelers for giving tight end Darnell Washington a lucrative contract.
Washington signed a four-year, $42 million contract extension with the Steelers on Thursday. To say the least, Cowherd thinks the Steelers overpaid the big tight end.
“Omar Khan signed blocking tight end Darnell Washington to a four-year contract. A blocking tight end? Cowherd said Thursday on The Herd Show. “It’s 2026. (Signing) a linebacker [Nick Herbig], who’s a good linebacker, I like him, and a blocking tight end. That’s like spending money on a boat, and a new media room, and you’re struggling to pay rent. In fact, 36-year-old Travis Kelce had 20 more catches last year than Darnell Washington has had in his career. I’m not trying to be a jerk, but that is what drives me crazy with the Steelers.”
The four-year deal has $42 million in new money, for an average annual value of $10.5 million per season, and has $21 million in guarantees.
The 6-foot-7 and over 300-pound Washington has been a stellar blocker since he first joined the Steelers out of Georgia in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and he has grown as a receiver in each of his three pro seasons.
Last year, he set career highs with 43 targets, 31 receptions, 364 yards and one touchdown, an average of 8.5 yards per target and 11.7 yards per touch.
Blocking tight ends have been high demand around the NFL lately, with players such as Josh Oliver of the Minnesota Vikings and John Bates of the Washington Commanders getting high-dollar free agent contracts despite being nearly exclusively used as blockers.
Washington still has one season remaining on his rookie contract, and had been set to earn $3.897 million in 2026.
Washington is the fourth Steelers player to earn a contract extension this offseason and the second member of the team’s 2023 NFL Draft class to sign a second contract, following Cam Heyward, Chris Boswell and draft-mate Nick Herbig.
Alan Saunders contributed.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Colin Cowherd Rips Steelers for Extending Darnell Washington: ‘Drives Me Crazy’
