The Pittsburgh Steelers traded down in the third round of the NFL Draft and may have still gotten the steal of the event.
With pick No. 93 on Friday, Pittsburgh selected Georgia TE Darnell Washington, the teammate of first-round pick Broderick Jones.
Washington ranks as Pro Football Focus's No. 37 overall prospect and third-best tight end in the draft class. Medical concerns likely pushed him down team boards.
The #Steelers take Georgia TE Darnell Washington at No. 93. Medical concerns were a factor in his slide, but he's got loads of talent. Continuing to amass weapons for Kenny Pickett.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 29, 2023
If Washington is healthy, though, the Steelers just added a massive weapon for second-year QB Kenny Pickett. He can also essentially serve as an extra offensive lineman with his size -- which Pittsburgh will surely take advantage of when the season gets underway in the fall.
"Washington is a unique 6-foot-7, 270-pound tight end. His height and weight don't do justice to just how massive he is. If your offense wants an offensive tackle who can also run routes and make guys miss after the catch, Washington is your man," PFF notes.
Now heading to Pittsburgh, Washington joins Pat Freiermuth, Connor Heyward and Zach Gentry in the organization's tight ends room. Reading between the lines, the Steelers would certainly seem to have plans to lean on multiple tight-end sets in 2023-24.
With two Bulldogs now a part of this year's rookie class, Pittsburgh is putting the rest of the league on notice -- the team is preparing to play bully ball.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!