Steelers signed TE Darnell Washington to a four-year, $42 million contract extension.
Washington’s contract includes $21 million in guaranteed money. A third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft from Georgia, he’s been as advertised so far in his pro career. Washington has only 57 catches, 625 yards and two touchdowns in three seasons, but is a tremendous blocker and extremely difficult to tackle when he has the ball. Listed at 6-foot-7 and 264 pounds, he’s one of the most physically imposing players in the NFL. With a $10.5 million average annual value, Washington is 12th in AAV among tight ends. That level of commitment could be a sign the Steelers plan to use a good amount of two tight end sets with Washington and Pat Freiermuth in head coach Mike McCarthy’s first season.