Leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft starting on April 27th, we will be releasing several draft profiles of prospects who could potentially see themselves on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Next up...
Darnell Washington (Tight End), Georgia, Junior
Darnell Washington stands in at 6'7" tall, weighing 270lbs, and is the most eye catching tight end prospect in this draft class
Kevin C. Cox | Getty Images
Darnell Washington catches a touchdown over an Alabama defender
Overview
There are some people in Steeler Nation that would likely question the team's need to draft a tight end during the first two days of the upcoming draft. However, Washington fits exactly what the Steelers are likely going to be trying to do on offense.
Washington is an NFL ready run blocker as an in-line tight end, as he has shown the ability to handle defensive ends and outside linebackers without help from others. With such a massive frame and very good athleticism, his potential is through the roof if he is able to get his receiving skills up to the level of his blocking. His athleticism shows once the ball is in his hands, as he has averaged over 17 yards per catch throughout his career, with over 7 of those yards coming after the ball is in his hands.
Pros:
- Built in a lab size
- NFL ready run blocker
- Explosive athlete
- Dangerous after the catch
- Tracks ball well in the air
- Not afraid to go over the middle
Cons:
- Limited as a route runner
- Not a quick twitch athlete, best in straight lines and not changing directions
- Blocking technique needs refined
- Limited experience being spread out as a receiver
- Not a good separator
The Steelers have their top tight end in Pat Freiermuth, and he appears to be a a long term answer at the position. However, he isn't a good in-line blocker yet, and the Steelers have no one to fill that role behind him currently. With how much the team runs the ball and would like to work off of play-action, someone with Washington's skill set would be a great match. Allowing Freiermuth to continue to grow as a complete tight end, as well as getting someone that is an explosive athlete and good blocker on the field to help protect Kenny Pickett is something that Mike Tomlin and company should be interested in.
Perry McIntyre
Darnell Washington hurdling an Oregon defender in 2022 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Receiving Ability
There is no doubt that Washington has a lot of growing to do as a receiver. While he has soft hands and is able to adjust to the ball when it is in the air, he isn't someone that is going to be a natural separator due to a stiffer lower body. Because of the nature of Georgia's offense, Washington is experienced as selling play-actions before getting out into his route, as well as being a reliable safety valve. No one will confuse Washington as being the next Travis Kelce in the near future.
Blocking
Want an NFL ready blocker out of this draft class? Washington is your guy. He consistently has displayed the strength, aggression, and understanding to consistently move edge defenders off of their spot. Some have even mentioned that if Washington doesn't pan out as a tight end, he could add weight to turn himself into an offensive tackle. He isn't perfect in this area, however. Due to size and strength, Washington hasn't needed to refine his technique as much as some others to be successful. That is something he should be able to improve upon early in his career however.
Kevin Snyder
Darnell Washington blocks an Arkansas defender in an away game in 2022
Strength and Athleticism
Washington's blend of size, strength, and athleticism are what make him one of the top tight ends in this draft. Not many people his size are as explosive of an athlete as he is, and not many people who are as good of an athlete as he is possess his level of strength. These traits make him a very good blocker and very dangerous once the ball is in his hands. Both of those things can let him contribute very early in his career.
NFL Comparison - Marcedes Lewis
There aren't a lot of players with the size of Washington that play tight end, but Lewis is honestly a spot on comparison. Both have a rare blend of size and overall athleticism, but neither are great receivers. Lewis has put together a 17-year career based on his ability to be an asset as a blocker, and Washington can easily do the same, with likely a higher ceiling as a receiver.
Draft Projection - Day 2 Selection
It is a bit hard to project where Washington is going to land. This is surprisingly a very good tight end class that could have 5-6 tight ends taken in the first three rounds. Usually tight ends that are better at blocking than receiving like Washington don't go high, but those guys don't usually have Washington's upside. He should hear his name called in the first half of the draft without question, but answering how early that is, is still up in the air.
Let us know below what you think about Washington as a prospect and the potential of seeing him in the black and gold catching passes from Pickett! What other prospects would you be interested in seeing a profile on? Click to comment below!
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