When the Pittsburgh Steelers called Darnell Washington on draft night in 2023, the pick felt like a robbery. You’ve got this 6'7" mountain of a human—literally nicknamed "Mount Washington"—who fell to the third round because of some medical red flags. People saw a glorified offensive tackle. They saw a guy who was just there to clear a path for Najee Harris.
But honestly? That’s only half the story.
Fast forward to the end of the 2025 season, and the narrative around the Steelers tight end Washington has flipped. He’s no longer just a "sixth offensive lineman." He’s become a tactical headache for every defensive coordinator in the AFC North. Despite a brutal broken arm in the Week 17 matchup against Cleveland that cut his breakout year short, Washington proved that his ceiling is way higher than "blocking specialist."
The "Mount Washington" Era: Beyond the Blocking
If you look at the raw box scores, you might miss the point. In 2025, Washington hauled in 31 catches for 364 yards. Those aren't Travis Kelce numbers. Not even close. But stats in football are kinda like Instagram filters—they don't always show the reality of the situation.
Washington’s real value is in how he dictates the game.
Under Arthur Smith’s "mad scientist" offensive scheme, the Steelers started leaning into heavy sets that looked like something out of the 1970s. They’d trot out three tight ends: Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, and Darnell. Sometimes they even threw Connor Heyward in there for a 04-personnel look. It was weird. It was bulky. And it worked.
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Why he’s a mismatch nightmare
Defenses are getting smaller. They want fast, 220-pound linebackers who can cover receivers. Then they run into Darnell Washington. He’s 311 pounds. Basically, he's a defensive tackle with soft hands and a mean stiff arm.
- The YAC Monster: According to PFF, Washington averaged 7.4 yards after the catch per reception in 2025. That was first among all tight ends.
- The Stiff Arm: Ask the Bengals. In Week 11, Washington caught a crossing route and essentially deleted a defensive back from the earth's surface with one hand.
- Catch Radius: His wingspan is 83 inches. If the ball is in the same ZIP code, he’s probably got a shot at it.
Breaking Down the 2025 Season
The growth we saw this year was massive. In 2023, he only had 7 catches. In 2024, it was 19. This year, he was on pace for nearly 40 before the injury. But more than the volume, it was when he was making plays.
He caught his second career touchdown in a narrow 33-31 loss to Cincinnati. It wasn't a fluke. It was a designed play-action where the defense forgot a 6'7" human could actually run a route.
The Kaboly "TE1" Debate
Mark Kaboly, a long-time Steelers insider, famously claimed midway through the 2025 season that Washington had surpassed Pat Freiermuth as "TE1."
"He’s TE1 now, baby," Kaboly said on 93.7 The Fan.
Now, look, Freiermuth is still the better pure receiver. He’s more fluid. He’s more of a traditional "F" tight end. But Washington is the engine of the run game. When he’s on the field, the Steelers' yards per carry (YPC) jumps significantly. You can't just ignore a guy who can seal an edge against a Pro Bowl pass rusher and then leak out for a 20-yard gain on the next play.
What Really Happened with the Weight?
There’s always been this mystery about how much the Steelers tight end Washington actually weighs. The official roster listed him at 264 pounds for a long time.
That was a lie.
Even back in his Georgia days, everyone knew he was pushing 280. By the middle of the 2025 season, reports surfaced that he was actually tipping the scales at 310 or 311 pounds. He’s the heaviest tight end in the league. But the crazy part? He’s actually moving better now than he did as a rookie. He slimmed down some "bad weight" and replaced it with pure power.
Seeing him on a screen pass is terrifying. Imagine a refrigerator moving at 18 miles per hour toward your chest. That’s what NFL safeties deal with every Sunday.
The Injury and the Road Ahead
The Week 17 injury against the Browns was a gut punch. A broken arm in the first quarter ended his season just as the Steelers were gearing up for a playoff push. He underwent surgery on December 30, 2025, and was officially placed on Injured Reserve.
It’s a setback, sure. But for a guy whose biggest knock coming out of college was "bad knees," his durability up until that freak accident has actually been a pleasant surprise. He’s played in 50 career games.
What to expect in 2026
- More Red Zone Usage: The Steelers still don't use him enough in the "low red" area. At 6'7", he should be getting three "box-out" targets a game.
- The "Tackle Over" Look: Arthur Smith has already experimented with lining Washington up as a de facto tackle. Expect more of this to confuse defensive fronts.
- Refined Route Running: He’s never going to be a burner, but his ability to find soft spots in zone coverage improved 100% this year.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're trying to figure out if Washington is the "real deal" or just a niche player, stop looking at his fantasy points. He’s a "force multiplier." He makes the offensive line better. He makes the running backs better. He makes the quarterback's life easier by being a massive safety valve.
Keep an eye on his recovery timeline. If he’s back for OTAs, the Steelers offense will have its most unique weapon fully integrated for 2026. The evolution from "Sixth Lineman" to "Legitimate Offensive Threat" is nearly complete.
Watch the tape of the Week 6 game against Cleveland. He had 62 yards on three catches. One of those was a 36-yarder where he just out-athleted a linebacker down the seam. That’s the future. That’s the guy the Steelers thought they were getting when they saw him falling down the draft board.
Mount Washington isn't just a landmark in Pittsburgh anymore. It's a 311-pound problem for the rest of the NFL.