Few offensive coordinators love the tight finish place just like the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Arthur Smith. After Darnell Washington’s season ended with a whimper, together with the remainder of the offense, Smith is likely to be dedicating 2025 to getting him extra concerned. Talking with Steelers.com’s Missi Matthews throughout the group’s obligatory minicamp, Smith acknowledged the asset he has in Washington.
“Darnell’s such a singular participant,” Smith advised Matthews. “Simply the scale, the foot velocity he has for a participant of that construct. What he can do within the run recreation. However actually the best way he drops his weight, the best way he catches it. You possibly can see why he was such a giant recruit popping out of Las Vegas. And simply one other nice man to work with.”
Washington is without doubt one of the NFL’s greatest tight ends. At 6’7 with a weight someplace within the neighborhood of 300 kilos (he performed above that in 2024 earlier than shedding kilos this offseason), he profiles like an offensive sort out greater than a typical tight finish. Drafted to dam, his recreation made a giant bounce in that regard final season. His subsequent aim is for his receiving chops to match.
Final season, Washington completed the season with a good 25 receptions. However his involvement disappeared late within the season, catching simply two passes on three targets over his last six video games. Smith appears to know that may’t occur once more.
“He had some very huge performs for us final yr and we gotta construct off that,” he mentioned. “And alter some issues up. However he’ll be a giant asset to us.”
Darnell Washington began final season displaying promise. After his first profession landing in Week Two towards the Denver Broncos, he took a brief catch in the precise flat for a 20-yard achieve towards the Indianapolis Colts. In Russell Wilson’s first begin towards the New York Jets, he completed with receptions of 15 and 18 yards. The next week versus the New York Giants, he beat protection over the center for a 29-yard splash play. The remainder of the yr fell flat.
It’s unlikely he’ll ever turn out to be a silky-smooth receiver with a nuanced and different route tree, however there’s extra meat on the bone than the Steelers acquired out of him final yr.
Smith’s phrases may sound hole, however there’s proof that he’s placing a plan in motion. Chatting with reporters yesterday, Washington famous Smith had began aligning him out broad and isolating him in unfold formations. The one factor that issues is his manufacturing when the video games begin counting, and anybody pondering Washington will finish with 50 catches must be disabused of the notion. Washington’s run blocking makes him an asset and received’t shelve him to the sidelines. However getting him extra concerned within the passing recreation is a worthy offseason aim.
