Pittsburgh Steelers rookie tight end, Darnell Washington certainly raised some eyebrows in disbelief when he rhymed off his top tight ends in the league and didn't include Kansas City Chiefs star, Travis Kelce. The 33-year-old four-time All-Pro is fourth all-time in receiving yards at the position with only 144 games played. All three guys ahead of him have over 230 games played and if he can reach anywhere close to that mark, he will become the greatest receiving tight end of all-time in yards.
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Steelers rookie tight end Darnell Washington catches a ball during the team's 2023 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Washington is getting rave reviews from some of his teammates already, with fellow University of Georgia alumni George Pickens calling him the best tight end in the NFL. He certainly has a unique skill set as a very physical blocker and a huge target in the passing game, but calling him the best at the position before he's even played a snap in the preseason is probably a little much. He's a two-time National Champion at the college level, but that doesn't mean much when discussing the top players in the NFL.
Washington was asked for his top five players at his position by current Pittsburgh cornerback Patrick Peterson and alumnus Bryant McFadden during an episode of the All Things Covered podcast. He explained his reasoning for leaving Kelce, a player on the track to Canton at tight end, off his list.
The Pittsburgh rookie explained that he sees Kelce more as a "big receiver" than as a true tight end. For someone like Washington who prides himself on the blocking aspects of the position, it's somewhat understandable for him to value that in players at the position.
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Steelers' Darnell Washington plays a little catch to warm up at the team's 2023 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
He explained that to really be a true tight end in his eyes, guys need to be lining up with their hands in the dirt more often than not. He likened it to college star and current Atlanta Falcons tight end, Kyle Pitts and his teammate at Georgia, Brock Bowers. He admitted that both are immensely talented as pass catchers, but didn't do a whole lot of lining up as blockers in their collegiate careers.
Steelers' Washington Gets A Playful Response From Kelce
Living in the social media era means that anything somewhat controversial that anyone says on a podcast immediately gets clipped and put on whatever platform the poster is using to generate views. Inevitably when someone says a player with seven consecutive 1,000-plus yards receiving seasons and has been on the AP Offensive Player of the Year ballot twice isn't in their top five, it will make the rounds. It found its way to Kelce and he had a quick comeback during an episode of New Heights, the podcast he hosts with his brother and Philadelphia Eagles center, Jason Kelce.
"He thinks I'm a wide receiver," Kelce said about Washington's comments. "Nah man, I've got to put my f***ing hand in the ground. Tell you what Darnell, if I'm not a tight end, I'd sure like to get paid like a wide receiver then."
Jason joked that he keeps getting paid like a tight end and not a pass catcher who absolutely will never put their hands in the ground. Per Spotrac, Travis has the third-highest cap hit for a tight end at just over $14.8 million and the second-highest total value of the full contract at $57.25 million. By cap hit compared to the receivers, he would rank fourth slotting in just ahead of Denver Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton's $14.2 million and just behind Chicago Bears newcomer D.J. Moore, whose cap hit sits at $20.165.
Abbie Parr/ AP Photo
Kansas City Chiefs tight end, Travis Kelce hauls in a pass during the 2023 Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Where the difference really lies is the full value of the full contracts. Travis' full contract ranks 19th among receivers behind Dallas Cowboys pass catcher Michael Gallup and ahead of Pittsburgh's Allen Robinson. Both are fine players, but you'd be hard-pressed to take either one over Travis Kelce.
In the modern game, there are more than a few tight ends who essentially serve as extra-big receivers and Travis Kelce is the cream of the crop. He might play the position differently than the way Washington values it, but that shouldn't discount his skills. It was his list and he saw it that way, but it's certainly a controversial take.
Do you agree with Washington that Kelce isn't a top-five tight end in 2023? What did you think of Kelce's response? Comment below!
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