The Pittsburgh Steelers have major decisions ahead with their 2023 draft class. Outside of OT Broderick Jones, Omar Khan hit big on his first draft, finding at least four starters and two quality rotational players. It’s a good problem to have but paying them and navigating the salary cap won’t be easy. One beat writer wonders what that could mean for TE Darnell Washington.
“You know what I’m worried about? I’m a little concerned the Steelers might not re-sign Darnell Washington this year,” Mark Kaboly said on his Kaboly + Mack podcast. “I don’t know any information that would lead me to believe that, but I’m just having a feeling that maybe that’s not top priority of a guy they’re wanting to get done.”
Along with Washington, the Steelers must also make decisions on Jones, CB Joey Porter Jr., DT Keeanu Benton, OLB Nick Herbig, and OL Spencer Anderson. K Chris Boswell is also due for an extension after delaying talks last year, and ILB Patrick Queen is entering the final year of his deal.
The Steelers have let major contract decisions stretch to training camp—or even into the regular season—in the past. They may not have the luxury of doing business that way this year with so many contracts to work out. Porter is likely the biggest agenda item as a top up-and-coming cornerback in a market that’s exploded in value over the last few years.
There are nine corners getting paid over $20 million per season at the moment. Porter has a legitimate case to join that club.
Both Benton and Herbig’s markets are tougher to put a finger on. Both positions command a premium, but Benton hasn’t broken out as a top player, and Herbig is held back by his limited sample size compared to others. Is he productive because of his small role, or is he ready to be a top starting edge rusher in the NFL? Those command two very different contract sizes likely to be hotly contested between his agent and the team.
Washington’s receiving stats don’t suggest a large contract but look what other blocking tight ends have commanded recently around the league. Charlie Kolar earned a three-year, $24.3 million contract this offseason with less receiving stats than Washington, and there’s a sense Washington has plenty more to give in that area with more opportunity.
Mike McCarthy’s offense still places plenty of value on the tight end position, but it won’t be nearly as 12- and 13-personnel heavy as Arthur Smith’s was in Pittsburgh the last couple seasons. Do they need an expensive blocking tight end with Pat Freiermuth under a reasonable contract through 2028? You don’t let a freak athlete like Washington out the door in an ideal world, but these are the decisions that need to be made when juggling several contract decisions all at once.
“I would say the over/under of the guys that they actually sign before the start of the season is two and a half,” Kaboly said. “It’s not gonna be the majority…Do you think I’m just saying this, or do you think I might have heard something?”
Where there is a will, there is a way with the NFL salary cap. And the Steelers have one of the best in the business with Omar Khan at manipulating the numbers. If the Steelers want to get back to being a team that builds through the draft, they can’t let homegrown talents walk out the door. Especially not when multiple other draft classes—like 2022—are already extinct from the roster.
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