Yahoo Sports NFL on Darnell Washington

ArticleRead & React: Are the young Steelers living up to their new money?
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While Freiermuth is the more prolific pass catcher, Washington has proven he can create explosive plays when targeted, and he has quickly been regarded as one of the better blocking tight ends in the league. Sealing off the edge on a run is becoming a specialty for Washington... he's got their fifth-highest run-blocking grade among tight ends with at least 80 run-blocking snaps this season. Increase that threshold to 100 snaps, and he has the second-highest grade among 20 tight ends with that kind of workload.
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Washington's elite run-blocking and creative deployment justify his contract value.

Washington has emerged as a key two-tight-end chess piece for Pittsburgh's offense, earning his contract through elite run-blocking (fifth-highest PFF run-blocking grade among tight ends with 80+ snaps, second-highest among 20 with 100+ snaps) and creative deployment as a blocker in both traditional runs and passing concepts including screens, flats, and rub routes. The source notes untapped potential in the passing game despite modest receiving stats (15 receptions, 156 yards, 2 TDs), positioning him as a big target in the quick game that substitutes for the running game against stout defenses.

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