The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Darnell Washington out of the University of Georgia in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The physical specimen is likely to see a much more significant role for at least the next month due to Pat Freiermuth being placed on Injured Reserve with a nagging hamstring injury.
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan has been anything but conservative since he was promoted to be the leader of the organization's front office in 2022. The main examples of his aggressive approach were evident in 2023 free agency. He completely overhauled the linebacker position and brought in a big-name veteran in cornerback, Patrick Peterson.
The trade of the year in 2022 happened right before the yearly deadline. Khan was looking all over the place for a trade partner to send Chase Claypool off to. He ended up swindling the Chicago Bears and received a 2023 second-round pick in exchange for the disgruntled pass catcher. With the 2023 deadline quickly approaching, Pittsburgh should be buyers, and it all starts at the tight end position.
Hamstring injuries can linger and Freiermuth experienced that firsthand in preparation for the team's Week 7 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. He will miss the mandatory four games, but there is no way to know when he will be able to get back on the field. It is a big loss for the Steelers offense, and there might be options on the trade market to take a look at.
1.) Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Hunter Henry is in his third and final year of a well-earned contract with the New England Patriots. His current team sits at 2-5 after an impressive Week 7 win over the Buffalo Bills, but it might be wise for New England to move on from him at the deadline. He is an experienced veteran and has 20 catches for 210 yards and two touchdowns in 2023.
Henry is currently in his seventh NFL season and Pittsburgh doesn't need a long-term solution at tight end because of Freiermuth and Washington. It sure would be nice to have a proven product at tight end as Washington continues to mature. A trio of Henry, Freiermuth and Washington during a potential postseason run is also something that could be factored into a potential trade.
2.) Mo Alie-Cox, Indianapolis Colts
Mo Alie-Cox is under contract for the Indianapolis Colts through 2024 so this would probably make a little less sense. It also isn't as attractive of an idea because Alie-Cox only has four catches for 61 yards on the season. It seems as if he's always been sort of a forgotten piece in the Colts' offensive scheme, but is a huge body at 6'5" and 267 pounds. Combining his run blocking ability with Washington's would be the perfect segue way to emphasizing the rushing attack even more.
With Diontae Johnson returning from a hamstring injury of his own, the current two tight ends that are healthy are unlikely to be featured heavily in the passing game. The depth is needed and it'd be wise to bring in another big force up front who can provide some mentorship to a rather younger tight end room. The asking price couldn't be more than a sixth or seventh round pick.
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3.) Zach Gentry, Cincinnati Bengals
This would just make sense wouldn't it? Zach Gentry was released during roster cutdowns and ended up signing with the Cincinnati Bengals, but he has remained on their practice squad for the entirety of the 2023 season up to this point. It seems like signing him off of a division rival's practice squad wouldn't just be a good idea for depth, but the Steelers would also be getting a little behind the scenes information about what's going on in Cincinnati.
Pittsburgh doesn't need to bring in a dynamic receiving threat with Freiermuth out, but someone who already knows the system and is recognized as a great locker room guy is a perfect solution while Freiermuth is down for at least four weeks. This is the most likely outcome for the Steelers and doesn't involve giving up any sort of draft compensation.
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