On a day when an arrest warrant was issued for 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk, the Steelers held a press conference to spotlight Nick Herbig's $100 million contract and later that night signed tight end Darnell Washington to a four-year $42 million extension that includes $21 million guaranteed.
Aiyuk, of course, is the one who got away from Omar Khan two years ago, and fortunately so, as the fourth-year Steelers general manager continues to ride a hot streak with his first and bejeweled draft class.
Washington, nicknamed "Mount Warshington" by the late broadcaster Craig Wolfley the day he was drafted, is a 6-foot-7, 300+-pound tight end who arguably is the best blocking tight end in the NFL. He's also presenting Aaron Rodgers with a size mismatch as a receiver down the field as the Steelers continue spring drills.
By extending Herbig and Washington this week, Khan got the two most difficult signings out of the way. Left are cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and defensive tackle Keeanu Benton, and perhaps even the seventh-round pick of that class, Spencer Anderson, who continues to run with the first team at right guard for the Steelers this spring.
Herbig and Washington were difficult negotiations in that they're both top-tier backups with starters already in place. While those with an eye for evaluating talent -- i.e. the rest of the League -- would've most certainly gobbled up those two players in next year's free agency, Khan appreciates the immensely talented 24-year-olds and locked them up through their prime years.
The only negative of Khan's first draft as general manager in 2023 is the neck injury suffered last season by first-round pick Broderick Jones, which caused the drafting of a third first-round tackle by Khan, Max Iheanachor, this past April. But even Jones -- while thinned down significantly as he continues to recover -- was with the team in uniform and his usual high spirits during Wednesday's second day of minicamp practices. Jones believes he'll be ready for the season, but the injury risk leaves any possible extension out of the question.
The Steelers aren't allowing media to attend the third day of minicamp, which is rumored to become an outing for the team.
And next week, the third week of voluntary OTAs, won't have near the attendance new coach Mike McCarthy has been receiving throughout the spring.
But if you blink, perhaps the rest of Khan's first class will be signed by then. The man's on a roll.
Darnell Washington with a TD catch vs. Jacksonville (Photo: Doug Engle, USA TODAY Sports)