Continuing our Depot Debate series, which Pittsburgh tight end will catch more touchdowns in 2026: Darnell Washington or Pat Freiermuth?
Pat Freiermuth is statistically the more productive tight end, with 22 career touchdowns. Darnell Washington has only caught two in his three-year career. Could that change under new head coach Mike McCarthy?
Jake Brockhoff and I debate.
DEPOT DEBATE: WHICH TIGHT END CATCHES MORE TOUCHDOWNS IN 2026, DARNELL WASHINGTON OR PAT FREIERMUTH?
JEREMY PIKE – DARNELL WASHINGTON
The Steelers obviously believe in Darnell Washington after signing him to a four-year extension this offseason. Mike McCarthy described him as a “matchup problem” and even mentioned the red zone when talking about where he can be a problem.
Obviously, anyone who stands six-foot-seven is a matchup problem in the red zone. For whatever reason, the Steelers never really deployed him as a red zone weapon during his early days in Pittsburgh. Former Steelers RB Merril Hoge thinks McCarthy is the right coach to unlock Washington as a tight end fully.
Washington is also a fantastic blocker. He’ll see the field in short-yardage and red-zone situations where the Steelers want to run the ball. That means in a play-action-heavy offense, he’ll get opportunities to look like he’s blocking before slipping out into a route.
The Steelers certainly added talent at the wide receiver position with Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard. That should help the offense perform better and open the field more. This should be Darnell Washington’s best season yet, and I expect him to take full advantage and lead the tight end room in receiving touchdowns.
JAKE BROCKHOFF – PAT FREIERMUTH
Along with Washington to some extent, Freiermuth fell victim to Jonnu Smith dominating touches in the tight end room last season. That led to just 41 receptions for 486 yards, one of the lowest statistical outputs of his career. However, he’s due for an improved season in 2026.
Although his opportunities came on an inconsistent basis, Freiermuth showed he could still come up big when needed. In the ‘Unc Bowl’ against Cincinnati last year, Freiermuth exploded for 111 receiving yards and two touchdowns on five receptions.
But even after that game, his maddening lack of targets continued. Over the next four games, Freiermuth received 12 combined targets. To his credit, he caught 10 of them and turned that into 92 yards and one score. He took advantage of his looks when he got them, but they weren’t consistent enough.
That figures to change this season. Throughout the 2025 campaign, Rodgers stressed the importance of getting Freiermuth the ball more. In a new offense under Mike McCarthy, Freiermuth should get more love than he did under Arthur Smith.
For what it’s worth, Freiermuth still finished with four touchdowns last year, compared to just one for Washington. While Washington is more of a red zone threat, Freiermuth can stretch the field. In that loss to Cincinnati last year, one of Freiermuth’s touchdowns came from 68 yards out. With Freiermuth’s 22 career touchdowns, a much higher total than Washington’s two, this is a stat the former should lead the tight end room in during the 2026 season.
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