Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington got a nice payday last week, signing a four-year, $42 million contract extension. Head coach Mike McCarthy is thrilled to have the big tight signed through 2030.
“He’s a complete Y tight end. I’ve been so impressed with him,” McCarthy said at OTAs on Tuesday. “To have a tight end that can line up next to the tackle and block a defensive end, that’s not been the norm in the last couple of decades in the National Football League. He gives you the ability to play under center offense the way it was played in the ’90s. That’s something I’m looking forward to. But he’s done everything else. He’s been here every day during the offseason program. He’s been a pro. His attention to detail in the meetings. He doesn’t say a whole lot, but I’ve been impressed with his work ethic. He’s a problem, a matchup problem. He’s a matchup problem in the pass game, especially in the red zone. Third-down situations, so he has a lot of value. A lot of value for our offense.”
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.
Brenden Howe provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Mike McCarthy Raves About Steelers TE Darnell Washington: ‘He’s a Problem’
