Steelers rookie TE has a chip on his shoulder

Darnell Washington. Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Steelers rookie TE has a big chip on his shoulder

By Aaron Becker | Last updated 5/18/23

The Steelers traded back in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft and were "shocked " to see the top player on their board was still available. For TE Darnell Washington, the wait was far too long.

There were six tight ends taken before Washington and he can name each one.

"You've got Dalton Kincaid, Michael Mayer, Tucker Kraft, Brenton Strange, [Luke] Musgrave, [Luke] Schoonmaker from Michigan ... Sam LaPorta," Washington said on the "All Things Covered" podcast.

After his draft day slide into the 3rd round, Darnell Washington can rattle off every TE selected ahead of him.

Love this. He's coming into the NFL with a chip on that 6'7 shoulder. #Steelers

(via @ATCoveredPod) pic.twitter.com/qvSLDneInr
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) May 18, 2023

Washington reportedly fell to pick No. 93 where Pittsburgh selected him due to health concerns but one scout told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that Washington's fall was "laughable" and that "he will play a long time."

That's exactly what he plans to do.

"When I put it all together, I can be a mismatch," Washington adds. "I can be anywhere on the field, whether that's running routes or if that's blocking. I need to put it all together. Once I do that, I will be a complete tight end."

If the 6-foot-7, 270-pound tight end needed any more motivation on the field, now he's got it.

Washington will remember all of those taken before him and who passed on him, carrying a chip on his shoulder for the rest of his long career.

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