June is quickly become contract extension month for the Pittsburgh Steelers. One day after inking edge rusher Nick Herbig to a new deal, the Steelers signed tight end Darnell Washington to an extension Wednesday night.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Washington’s deal is a 4-year, $42 million extension. The contract will include $21 million guaranteed.
The deal includes $21M guaranteed.
Steelers and agent @PerrettM at @PrioritySports reached deal tonight.
Fellow NFL insider Jordan Schultz and Steelers insiders, Mark Kaboly and Gerry Dulac, also reported the new deal Wednesday night.
The Steelers selected Washington in the same draft as Herbig — 2023. The team picked the tight end first at No. 93 overall in the third round. The Steelers then took Herbig at No. 132 overall during the fourth round.
Washington experienced a breakout season of sorts last season, posting career highs in receptions, receiving yards and yards per catch. In 50 NFL games over three seasons, Washington has posted 57 catches, 625 yards and two touchdowns.
At 6-foot-7 and more than 300 pounds, Washington is also an excellent blocker.
Steelers Sign TE Darnell Washington to Contract Extension: Report
GettyThe Pittsburgh Steelers signed Darnell Washington to a contract extension Wednesday night.
Washington’s deal added four years to his contract. Therefore, he’s currently signed for the next five seasons and will make about $45.6 million during that stretch.
Washington won’t become an unrestricted free agent until March 2031.
The deal will pay the tight end about $10.5 million on an average annual basis. Steelers Depot’s Joe Clark wrote that will make Washington the league’s highest-paid “blocking” tight end.
“He’s built like a lineman, but he’s really worked at his blocking,” wrote Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora. “Much better compared to his rookie year. And makes him a headache for defenses.”
Overall, Washington will be the 12th-highest paid tight end when his $10.5 million average annual salary begins.
After the contract, some fans questioned on social media whether the Steelers overpaid for a tight end who focuses more on blocking than receiving. Kaboly and Penn Live’s Nick Farabaugh argued why the contract wasn’t an overpay.
“He’s a force multiplier that can make a poor call right,” wrote Farabaugh. “Changes the math completely. And he’s not a 0 as a receiver.”
Kaboly reported the extension with Washington came together very quickly Wednesday. The deal went final just a little more than 24 hours after the Steelers inked Herbig to a 4-year, $100 million extension.
Who’s Up Next on Steelers Contract Extension List?
GettyESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Omar Khan and the Pittsburgh Steelers signed tight end Darnell Washington to a contract extension Wednesday.
With the Steelers busy on the practice field this week, the team’s general manager has been checking off his extension candidate list.
Washington joined Herbig and kicker Chris Boswell as Steelers who received extensions this spring. Khan might only be about halfway done.
“Steelers had five players in the final year of their contracts targeted for new deals this offseason,” wrote Dulac on X. “They have signed three already — Chris Boswell, Nick Herbig and Darnell Washington.
“The other two are CB Joey Porter Jr. and DT Keeanu Benton.”
Before Washington’s extension Wednesday, Steelers Now’s Alan Saunders reported the Steelers were “working toward” a fresh contract with Benton. But a lot of pundits think Porter will get the next Steelers extension.
At the rate Khan is going, both could have new contracts before training camp.
The extensions for Herbig and Washington along with likely deals for Porter and Benton should have Steelers fans very excited. It’s a sign that under Khan, the organization has returned to building its core through the draft.
Like Herbig and Washington, Porter and Benton were also part of the 2023 draft class. Four players on second contracts in that class blows away the 2022 Steelers class.
No one from Pittsburgh’s 2022 class received a second deal. The Steelers draft classes in 2020 and 2021 weren’t exactly stellar either.
The 2023 class already has two: Nick Herbig and Darnell Washington. With Joey Porter Jr. and Keeanu Benton on the docket.
Bother Porter and Benton were second-round picks in 2023. The Steelers selected offensive tackle Broderick Jones in the third round of that draft.
Jones could still get an extension, but that’s not likely to happen this summer. The Steelers elected not to exercise Jones’ fifth-year option this offseason.
Steelers Sign Next Young Budding Star to Contract Extension: Report