Steelers' Darnell Washington Gets Big-Time Endorsement As Question Marks Remain

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington, the 2023 third-round pick whose rare 6-foot-8, 300-plus-pound frame has already made him a cult hero among fans, received the strongest vote of confidence yet from the organization on Tuesday at the NFL Combine.

General manager Omar Khan, speaking to reporters in Indianapolis, left little ambiguity about Washington’s place in the franchise’s long-term blueprint, describing the second-year tight end as a “cornerstone” of the roster the Steelers intend to build. The declaration arrives at a pivotal moment: Washington is under contract only through the 2027 season, and negotiations on a rookie-deal extension are widely expected to intensify before the 2026 league year begins.

Washington’s first two professional seasons have been equal parts tantalizing and turbulent. Former offensive coordinator Arthur Smith unlocked the University of Georgia product’s versatility, motioning him across formations and manufacturing touches that showcased his punishing stiff-arm and open-field power. Despite sharing a room with proven pass catchers Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth, Washington steadily carved out a role, finishing the 2025 campaign with 31 receptions on 43 targets for 364 yards and one touchdown in 16 games before a late-season injury landed him on injured reserve.

The raw totals belie the impact: nearly every Washington touch became social-media fodder, clips of defenders bouncing off his shoulder pads circulating well beyond Steelers Twitter. Still, ball-security hiccups and intermittent knee maintenance have kept the conversation around him cautiously optimistic rather than unbridled.

Questions naturally surfaced when Mike McCarthy took over as head coach, replacing the staff that originally championed Washington. Would the new regime value a jumbo tight end whose greatest utility may still be as a sixth offensive lineman who can detach and stress linebackers down the seam? Khan’s emphatic answer Tuesday—coupled with reports that Washington has resumed full workouts in Arizona—suggests Pittsburgh has no intention of finding out what life would look like without him.

An extension is not imminent, but Steelers insiders interpret Khan’s phrasing as a signal that negotiations will be prioritized once the new league year opens. For a fan base that has already embraced Washington’s throwback, physically imposing style, the front office’s stance offers both clarity and excitement: the most unique weapon in the tight-end room isn’t going anywhere.