Sometimes during the dead period, I think there can be some players that can overthought or run through the thought gauntlet a little bit too much. It ends up happening towards the end of a period like the NFL Draft, too. For the Steelers this year, it feels like that guy is Darnell Washington.
The rookie has only been a member of the team for three months, but it feels like there are some extravagant thought pieces that continue to come out about him. I have consistently talked about how I think Washington had a relatively solid start to his NFL career throughout OTAs and minicamp. It’s not going to be indicative of his future play, but overall, everything that you expected to be there was there.
So, after Bleacher Report named Washington as the likely biggest disappointment for the Steelers this year, it seems like there has been some trepidation falling around Washington. There were a few clips of his route running from individual drills that went around, and it garnered negative attention as well.
But I have some serious questions as to why there are so many questions. Washington can become a special player in later years, but was there ever an expectation for him to become some star contributor in year one? If there was, it was mistaken, but I fail to see how Washington does not have a clear role to start the season with this team.
For one, he’s the best blocker in the room. The Steelers drafted him partially because Washington should be one of the best run blockers right away at the position in the NFL. When we talk about 12 personnel and 13 personnel sets that Matt Canada likes to use, Washington fits quite nicely into that role.
Washington never was going to come into this room and be some volume eater as a receiver. That’s Pat Freiermuth. Freiermuth has all of the boxes checked in terms of what you want from a flex-TE in today’s NFL. Washington is a throwback butt kicker up front that the team needs to really unlock the rushing attack. In fact, Washington might have the clearest path to a defined role right away in that area.
So, let’s stop overthinking the idea behind Washington in year one. No, he’s not an elite route runner. As a receiver, he is likely to be a seam buster and redzone target. He will not be flexed out into the slot as much. But he will block in space and be a guy who can put his hand into the dirt and move bodies. I’m not sure this team has had that in recent years. That’s the key path for Washington.
So, if that’s all he is in year one, that’s not a disappointment. The Steelers’ identity will be built upon their ground game. Washington might be able to make his presence felt in a massive way in that role. It’s okay for his role to be just that. Washington has exciting potential for the future as a receiver and all-around tight end, but if he’s not much of a receiving threat in his rookie season, that’s okay. Don’t overthink what Washington is at face value.