Steelers Rookie Darnell Washington Gives Grade Review On His Performance This Summer

Tight end wasn't necessarily seen as a huge need heading into the 2023 offseason for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The front office addressed the core needs in free agency, including linebacker and interior offensive line help. That gave General Manager, Omar Khan a few different paths to work with for the 2023 NFL Draft. Starter, Pat Freiermuth has developed into one of the best TEs in football in his first two NFL seasons as he has 1,229 yards and nine touchdowns in that span.

Additionally, the team had veteran Zach Gentry and 2022 sixth-rounder Connor Heyward in the tight end room. The Steelers met with just one tight end in their 30 pre-draft visits, which was Darnell Washington out of the University of Georgia. From there, it was clear that the team was infatuated with Washington. Regarded as one of the most talented players in the draft, he somehow fell to the third round. 

The rookie was seen as a late first-round talent so Khan couldn't help, but take Washington in the third round. He is a 6'7", 264-pound tight end with immense upside. Just a few weeks ago, he acknowledged there's still a steep learning curve ahead. Via Amanda Godsey of Johnstown Tribune-Democrat, he gave a letter grade and overall feedback for his performance this summer in Pittsburgh so far.

"I just grade myself overall like B-, C+. I know I may have run a good route here or there during these couple of days, but it's still staying consistent. I feel like, when it comes to that - cleaning up in and out of breaks. I feel like I've come a long way when it comes to really just getting comfortable with the plays. And I feel like the more comfortable you get, the faster you can play," Washington said when speaking to media.

In today's day and age, many people expect immediate results, specifically in sports. If a guy doesn't perform right away, the "bust" labels start to get thrown around. People haven't done that with Washington yet, but there has been displeasures online. The Georgia product has been seen running routes at Organized Team Activites (OTAs) and minicamp, and he's looked a bit clunky.

Will Steelers Rookie See A Lot Of Snaps In 2023?

This should have been expected though as he was far from a finished product entering the draft. While his ceiling is quite high, Washington remains a raw, unfinished product. That, along with concerns about his knee, ultimately led to his fall. Now, there's no doubt that expectations are still high for his upcoming rookie campaign. With that, it's important to remain patient with his progression.

Thankfully, he doesn't have to step in and be a starter right away. In fact, he may not start for a few seasons with Freiermuth in the fold. If not right away, Washington will likely be the number two tight end at some point in 2023, as Gentry is quite limited in his overall abilities. Additionally, Heyward will be seeing snaps all over the field, including as a fullback. 

Washington can play to his strengths, most notably his exceptional blocking, while he continues to work on other areas of his game. Freiermuth has been recently dealing with an unknown injury, although he should be ready to go by training camp. For Washington, this could mean more useful, meaningful snaps this summer against Pittsburgh's strong defense.

What are your expectations for the Georgia product in his first NFL season? Do you think he will become one of the best tight ends in the NFL? Where do you rank Pittsburgh's TE room amongst the best in the league? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, yinz!

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