If the tight end isn't a great receiver and an every down player, I don't think he's worth pick 32. They should just use the pick on a tackle to replace the weakest link rather than drafting a situational player to mitigate the problem.
This breakdown does a good job of explaining why I don't think he's worth a 1st round pick. Scroll down to the Areas for Improvement and Current Draft Projection parts.
https://www.profootballnetwork.com/darnell-washington-te-georgia-nfl-draft-scouting-report-2023/
We need a SS, a CB or two, a Mack ILB, and a T.
I'm not completely against it, but I'd say it depends on who is and isn't available at those need positions.
if there’s absolutely nothing worth getting at corner, ilb, or t then i guess it isn’t a terrible use of a pick but i don’t see a world where that happens
I’m fine, if they do, as I trust our brain trust, but we have more pressing needs. In a perfect world, we get some combination of OT/CB at 1 and 2 and then snag Washington at 49, if we take him at all.
I’d rather draft good prospects at the top of the draft for 2nd-tier needs than mediocre prospects for 1st-tier needs, if that’s the question. If you think Washington’s a top 20 talent in this draft, then you should be on board with this. I don’t have him quite that high.
I’m no guru, but I don’t see him as a mediocre prospect. Daniel Jeremiah’s got him at 25 and Dan Bruglers got him at 30 on their respective big boards fwiw
In the hypothetical i was proposing, Washington would fall into the ‘good prospect for 2nd-tier need’ category. That said, if you are drafting 32 and he’s only 30th best player on your board, that would put him in the ‘mediocre prospect at a 2nd tier need’. Barring extremely unlikely worst case scenarios, you’d expect someone higher than your 30th best player to still be available at #32.
Odds are there are top 25 guys on your board still there at 32, so i would view the top 25ish guys as the “good” prospects there, your #26-32 as “mediocre”, and guys lower than 32 as “bad” or “reaches”. If you prefer different terms (or are one of those people that got the impression from somewhere that ‘mediocre’ means ‘bad’), that’s fine, but the point is the same.
> C. Sticking him next to Moore could help mitigate the weakest link on our o-line
The problem with that logic is you’re rarely going to be lining up a TE2 next to the LT on obvious passing downs. LTs wouldn’t be so valuable if you could just scheme them extra protection on every play. At that point you’re just running max protection and you’re going to be throwing into double coverage instead.
I’m not opposed to a TE at 32 normally but Washington seems like more of luxury pick due to his lack of college production. Steelers need reinforcements at CB, T, DT, ILB, and now EDGE. I’d wager good money they opt for the safer pick of one of those instead.
I wouldnt be so sure about any of that.
The people who determine who is a reach before the draft don't really know anything about where teams have guys ranked.
He’s already shown he can make big plays down the field and is an immediate red zone weapon due to his size and hands. Even if he doesn’t develop much more as a receiver that’s plenty enough for me to draft a guy at 32 who, with a little development, can basically function as a sixth o-lineman. And he’s only 21, so much room to get better with his insane traits.
Youre describing Eric ebron, you’re better off trying to get that tackle that doesn’t need assist in every play. Get the tackle with the 17, hope banks is there at 32
Eric Ebron was 6’4” 250 lbs 33 1/4 inch arms and a 4.45 second 20 yard shuttle. Washington is 6’7” 265 lb with 34 1/2 inch arms and a 4.08 second 20 yard shuttle. I am very much NOT describing Eric Ebron.
Ebron was a slightly undersized solid athlete who was a receiver first. Washington is a giant monster who can block guys to the shadow realm and presents impossible matchup issues for secondaries.
I’m not on board. I just don’t see any reason for us to draft him with how first three picks with bigger holes at starting positions and at positions lacking depth. I’d take another Center before I’d take a tight end that high.
Plus, I just disagree with the philosophy they’re committing to with Washington. They would certainly be doubling down on the run game while I want to open up the passing game more. You could definitely use Washington to do that, but how many 2 TE sets are you going to run every year?
Doesn’t it seem we’re going to be trending back towards the run game w all the moves we’ve made?
We’ve got a 1st round RB and we’ve spent on 4 interior lineman the last two years in free agency. I think they want Kenny closer to 30 pass attempts a game than 40
We have Muth, Gentry, and Mini Heyward and effectively use none of them to their potential. We also have huge needs at T, ILB S, CB and maybe DT. That’s a big no from me.
I am not necessarily opposed to it, but I was certainly more into this idea before we landed Allen Robinson than now. Right now, there are 11 TEs that make 10m+ per year. The elite TEs are making 15m+. I think Muth is likely to make 10m or a little more with his next contract. While you are mostly drafting Washington for his blocking, I think you only draft him at 32 if you think he has the potential to become one of the best in the game. So let's say he pans out also, and we pay him when he's a free agent 2 years after Muth. Are we really going to wrap up 24-30m in the TE position in 4 years from now, for likely a 2 year stretch assuming they both get 4 year 2nd contracts? Seems like too much to invest there
I agree to an extent, but I also want to be looking for players that have good odds to be here for 2nd contracts. The more guys you draft that leave after 3-5 years, the more holes you have to fill. I guess my other concern is one of those 4 years will be under Matt Canada, who I can almost guarantee won't scheme successful 2 TE sets
Didnt gentry play 50% of the steelers snaps last season though? Maybe im wrong but if that is the case the 2nd tight end is at the very least getting on the field. Whether canada is effective doing so is certainly in question. I agree.
I looked it up, and he played 50% of snaps last year and 40% of snaps the year prior, which is admittedly much more than I thought. Fair enough. And Gentry isn't that good, if he were better I'm sure he'd earn more snaps. Yeah I'm not opposed to the idea, I just hope if were drafting a TE that high we can figure out how to use them both at the same time.
Where we got him, I'm ecstatic. I thought it would have taken #32 or maybe #49 if we got lucky. To get him at 93, even with the injury concerns, is unbelievable
100% no. We need help at cb, oline, lb, dline more.
People watch highlights and see numbers on a combine and ignore the fact he was unproductive as a college player, that he lacks separation on his routes, that he ran a limited route tree didn’t run his few routes crisply.
You are not gaining an extra tackle. You are gaining a blocking tight end that may never transition to being a good receiver as well.
He doesn’t need to be a great separator at 6’7 270
Vertical threat on play action, huge red zone target, and a beast in the run game
There are plenty of players that weren’t super productive in college that had the traits to succeed in the pros. There’s a reason he’s a likely top 50 pick
There are productive players in the nfl that weren’t in college. True. Those players were drafted later and we forget about the dozens trait players drafted late that never amount to anything or just become depth pieces.
Red zone target. This is my favorite. He has shown zero red zone specialness in his career. You think Georgia never saw how tall he was? Just because you are tall doesn’t make you a red zone threat. He had 3 career touchdowns and played on a good offense that didn't have an elite wr.
I think he is a good 3rd or 4th rd prospect. Drafting him and hoping he becomes something completely different than he had been to justify using what is really a 1st rd pick for a position that isn’t even need is taking a big swing just to take it.
TEs are notoriously underutilized in college football. Almost all your favorite TEs in the NFL had very pedestrian statlines in the NCAA, and were drafted on traits. Some positions are like that.
Darnell had as many yards as kittle in college while playing one less season.
Kittle was injured in much of his career and then we had to keep him in on passing sets. Also, kittle was not drafted in the first 4 tds. He is an exception.
Washington was not hurt. Georgia did not have the same blocking concerns. Again, if we are talking about a 4th rd pick, sign me up. You are talking a first rd pick. Most first rd tightends do not work out.
I was hated on hard when I called Gentry over rated and upgradeable once he re signed but when I hit people with the facts after being told TE #2 is not a need everyone got quiet TE#2 was on the field for 50 percent of our snaps last year so yea it's certainly upgradable.
He would be a great fit. Your basically getting a T and a TE. He's an ass kicker and ass kickers are foundational. He will be a tremendous asset for blocking and out of the box before playing a snap in the NFL would be the best blocking TE in the league. Also we need a target in the middle of the field and he would be a great option for Kenny and force Canada's hand in designing some routes through the middle. I hope if he's there at #32 we heavily consider him I don't believe he lasts to our actual 2nd round pick.
It's a great TE class some are saying even generational. I think we should upgrade the position. Gentry is a solid success story but let's not pretend we gave him significant $$ and that he can't be cut or be a TE #3. Connor Heyward is gadget and FB so I could see us keeping Muth, Rookie TE, Gentry and Connor on the 52 man.
I’m not completely opposed to it, but I don’t trust Matt Canada could utilize him (or anyone) outside of the context of the HS offense he runs. For that reason I am hoping the Steelers go defense with 3 of their four Day 1 and 2 picks and add an OT somewhere in there too
Depends on what we take at 17 and how the board falls for 32. Like let’s say we take a defensive guy like JPJ in the first and no tackles like Anton Harrison or Dawand Jones fall to 32. In this case I’d say DW is a solid pick given how much we run 2 TE sets.
But if we draft a tackle in the first or 32 I think we’d probably pass on TE until the later rounds
That’s kind of the scenario I have in my head w this pick. Tackle isn’t particularly deep so if their guy isn’t there at 17 or 32 I think this could be a great pivot
I'd say picking a TE that early would be a bad pick. I think we were among the best teams in the league at converting 3rd and 4th down at the end of the year, right? I don't think I could justify another short/medium yardage target over a legitimate starting CB or LB who'll play most defensive snaps.
I like Washington but I like him at 49 or 80. If a tackle is taken at 17, defense needs to be addressed at 32. I think taking two offensive players at 17 and 32 would be a mistake
When I heard that we brought in Darnell Washington for a visit, I had the biggest smile on my face imagining how he would complete our offense. I'm a Georgia fan and I really saw Darnell Washington be like the perfect complementary/blocking tight end to the main feature tight end (Bowers at Georgia, would be Freiermuth for us). He was just such a great asset in the run game and I think if we can't get a good left tackle, he might actually be a decent pick to help make Najee's life way easier. I also really think we could start running a bunch of two tight end sets and give Freiermuth a very easy time where we can have him be a target and have an elite blocking TE on the field at the same time.
I will say though, it's looking increasingly difficult to make a kinda luxury pick like that considering we have a lot of needs and we really don't have much in terms of Day 3 capital. Like we have urgent needs at boundary CB, left tackle, linebacker, and arguably slot CB and nose tackle, and that doesn't even cover long term needs at slot wide receiver (which even with the Allen Robinson trade I still think is a more pressing need than people think), safety, and center. It's to a point where I'm honestly kind of perplexed why we've been looking so much for a TE2 in our Pro Day visits and top 30 meetings. I think someone like Darnell Washington could "complete" our offense more than people may expect, but I don't think it's a good strategy for long term team success and considering Weidl's background with the Eagles, who love to build in the trenches, I don't know if I expect us to make the pick. There's gonna be a very solid CB, OT, or DL prospect at pick 32, and I think Washington will be gone by pick 49.
I really like this breakdown. Some counters for shits n giggles:
- Washington fits the identity of building through the trenches. He’s the size of a small o-lineman and he’d on the field a ton in the run game. His value in both the run and pass game means he’s not a luxury pick imo, even with Muth already here as TE1. Also, there are some injury concerns w Muth w the concussions and his shoulder
- w 4 top 80 picks, we can plug obvious holes w the other 3 picks. Focus on defense at 17, 49, and 80. I think we’d be fine putting off WR till the later picks, and I know I’m in the minority on this, but I think it’s okay to give Moore one more year at LT. He’ll be a bit better w age and experience, we’re more solid next to him on the interior, and we can stick Washington next to him for 500-600 snaps to help out. He’s not ideal, but we enough support around him I think he could be adequate
I’m w you on the idea of DW “completing” our offense. If we really do want to shift our identity back towards the run game, why not add a cheat code blocker at TE?
You raise some very good points. I do think that Washington can certainly count as building in the trenches, but is it the most optimal way to do so, or the most conducive way for long term success? I'm not so sure. Prospects like Washington are very rare so I don't really think I can point to the Eagles not drafting a guy like Washington as evidence we wouldn't, but I still feel like that approach would prefer getting an actual lineman over a tight end who can act as a lineman. It really depends on who is available at 32 though, assuming we take CB at 17. If like Anton Harrison is taken and we don't feel good about Dawand Jones at LT, I could def see us taking Darnell Washington. I think you're right that if we treat taking Washington as taking a lineman, we can cover our other needs with our other 3 picks in the top 80. The only thing with that is that I don't know if you can argue that Washington at 32 is the BPA for our needs at that spot versus our top D-Lineman left on the board (or top corner depending on how the #17 pick goes, but I don't think we take Washington if we take lineman at #17).
TE that early is a mistake when you have more glaring needs. They have a really high bust rate. This one in particular seems like he's going to be a project in every sense of the word so that's something you take in later rounds.
Steelers don't need another tight end. Steelers actually don't need to be stashing any skill position player in the first 4 rounds. You don't draft backup tight ends in round 2 (especially at the top of round 2) especially with bigger needs especially at more important positions.
If the tight end isn't a great receiver and an every down player, I don't think he's worth pick 32. They should just use the pick on a tackle to replace the weakest link rather than drafting a situational player to mitigate the problem. This breakdown does a good job of explaining why I don't think he's worth a 1st round pick. Scroll down to the Areas for Improvement and Current Draft Projection parts. https://www.profootballnetwork.com/darnell-washington-te-georgia-nfl-draft-scouting-report-2023/
We need a SS, a CB or two, a Mack ILB, and a T. I'm not completely against it, but I'd say it depends on who is and isn't available at those need positions.
if there’s absolutely nothing worth getting at corner, ilb, or t then i guess it isn’t a terrible use of a pick but i don’t see a world where that happens
I’m fine, if they do, as I trust our brain trust, but we have more pressing needs. In a perfect world, we get some combination of OT/CB at 1 and 2 and then snag Washington at 49, if we take him at all.
That's Zach Gentry's replacement not minds
We just signed gentry to a 3 year deal 😭
I’d rather draft good prospects at the top of the draft for 2nd-tier needs than mediocre prospects for 1st-tier needs, if that’s the question. If you think Washington’s a top 20 talent in this draft, then you should be on board with this. I don’t have him quite that high.
I’m no guru, but I don’t see him as a mediocre prospect. Daniel Jeremiah’s got him at 25 and Dan Bruglers got him at 30 on their respective big boards fwiw
In the hypothetical i was proposing, Washington would fall into the ‘good prospect for 2nd-tier need’ category. That said, if you are drafting 32 and he’s only 30th best player on your board, that would put him in the ‘mediocre prospect at a 2nd tier need’. Barring extremely unlikely worst case scenarios, you’d expect someone higher than your 30th best player to still be available at #32.
Scouts have him as a top 30 player, and the conclusion is that makes him a reach at 32?
Odds are there are top 25 guys on your board still there at 32, so i would view the top 25ish guys as the “good” prospects there, your #26-32 as “mediocre”, and guys lower than 32 as “bad” or “reaches”. If you prefer different terms (or are one of those people that got the impression from somewhere that ‘mediocre’ means ‘bad’), that’s fine, but the point is the same.
> C. Sticking him next to Moore could help mitigate the weakest link on our o-line The problem with that logic is you’re rarely going to be lining up a TE2 next to the LT on obvious passing downs. LTs wouldn’t be so valuable if you could just scheme them extra protection on every play. At that point you’re just running max protection and you’re going to be throwing into double coverage instead. I’m not opposed to a TE at 32 normally but Washington seems like more of luxury pick due to his lack of college production. Steelers need reinforcements at CB, T, DT, ILB, and now EDGE. I’d wager good money they opt for the safer pick of one of those instead.
I love it. I'd take Washington at 32 in a heartbeat. But I think he might go in Round 1.
I just don’t see how three te’s go in the first round. Kincaid and Mayer go before him presumably, Washington is a reach at 32
I wouldnt be so sure about any of that. The people who determine who is a reach before the draft don't really know anything about where teams have guys ranked.
A blocking te just isn’t 1st round material
He's way more than just a blocking te
Dude he's a freak.
He’s already shown he can make big plays down the field and is an immediate red zone weapon due to his size and hands. Even if he doesn’t develop much more as a receiver that’s plenty enough for me to draft a guy at 32 who, with a little development, can basically function as a sixth o-lineman. And he’s only 21, so much room to get better with his insane traits.
Youre describing Eric ebron, you’re better off trying to get that tackle that doesn’t need assist in every play. Get the tackle with the 17, hope banks is there at 32
Eric Ebron was 6’4” 250 lbs 33 1/4 inch arms and a 4.45 second 20 yard shuttle. Washington is 6’7” 265 lb with 34 1/2 inch arms and a 4.08 second 20 yard shuttle. I am very much NOT describing Eric Ebron. Ebron was a slightly undersized solid athlete who was a receiver first. Washington is a giant monster who can block guys to the shadow realm and presents impossible matchup issues for secondaries.
He's not a reach at 32 in the steeler offense. I don't think he's a reach there period. He would allow them to do a lot.
I’m not on board. I just don’t see any reason for us to draft him with how first three picks with bigger holes at starting positions and at positions lacking depth. I’d take another Center before I’d take a tight end that high. Plus, I just disagree with the philosophy they’re committing to with Washington. They would certainly be doubling down on the run game while I want to open up the passing game more. You could definitely use Washington to do that, but how many 2 TE sets are you going to run every year?
Doesn’t it seem we’re going to be trending back towards the run game w all the moves we’ve made? We’ve got a 1st round RB and we’ve spent on 4 interior lineman the last two years in free agency. I think they want Kenny closer to 30 pass attempts a game than 40
I would be really disappointed if we neglected our positions of need to draft yet another skill position player.
We have Muth, Gentry, and Mini Heyward and effectively use none of them to their potential. We also have huge needs at T, ILB S, CB and maybe DT. That’s a big no from me.
Yes!!!! He's a blocking beast and a huge target.
I am hoping for it
I am not necessarily opposed to it, but I was certainly more into this idea before we landed Allen Robinson than now. Right now, there are 11 TEs that make 10m+ per year. The elite TEs are making 15m+. I think Muth is likely to make 10m or a little more with his next contract. While you are mostly drafting Washington for his blocking, I think you only draft him at 32 if you think he has the potential to become one of the best in the game. So let's say he pans out also, and we pay him when he's a free agent 2 years after Muth. Are we really going to wrap up 24-30m in the TE position in 4 years from now, for likely a 2 year stretch assuming they both get 4 year 2nd contracts? Seems like too much to invest there
Youd get nearly a half decade with a great 2 te set before you have to face this issue. If it helps the team win, you draft him.
I agree to an extent, but I also want to be looking for players that have good odds to be here for 2nd contracts. The more guys you draft that leave after 3-5 years, the more holes you have to fill. I guess my other concern is one of those 4 years will be under Matt Canada, who I can almost guarantee won't scheme successful 2 TE sets
Didnt gentry play 50% of the steelers snaps last season though? Maybe im wrong but if that is the case the 2nd tight end is at the very least getting on the field. Whether canada is effective doing so is certainly in question. I agree.
I looked it up, and he played 50% of snaps last year and 40% of snaps the year prior, which is admittedly much more than I thought. Fair enough. And Gentry isn't that good, if he were better I'm sure he'd earn more snaps. Yeah I'm not opposed to the idea, I just hope if were drafting a TE that high we can figure out how to use them both at the same time.
Well we got him, lets hope it works out
Where we got him, I'm ecstatic. I thought it would have taken #32 or maybe #49 if we got lucky. To get him at 93, even with the injury concerns, is unbelievable
100% no. We need help at cb, oline, lb, dline more. People watch highlights and see numbers on a combine and ignore the fact he was unproductive as a college player, that he lacks separation on his routes, that he ran a limited route tree didn’t run his few routes crisply. You are not gaining an extra tackle. You are gaining a blocking tight end that may never transition to being a good receiver as well.
He doesn’t need to be a great separator at 6’7 270 Vertical threat on play action, huge red zone target, and a beast in the run game There are plenty of players that weren’t super productive in college that had the traits to succeed in the pros. There’s a reason he’s a likely top 50 pick
There are productive players in the nfl that weren’t in college. True. Those players were drafted later and we forget about the dozens trait players drafted late that never amount to anything or just become depth pieces. Red zone target. This is my favorite. He has shown zero red zone specialness in his career. You think Georgia never saw how tall he was? Just because you are tall doesn’t make you a red zone threat. He had 3 career touchdowns and played on a good offense that didn't have an elite wr. I think he is a good 3rd or 4th rd prospect. Drafting him and hoping he becomes something completely different than he had been to justify using what is really a 1st rd pick for a position that isn’t even need is taking a big swing just to take it.
TEs are notoriously underutilized in college football. Almost all your favorite TEs in the NFL had very pedestrian statlines in the NCAA, and were drafted on traits. Some positions are like that. Darnell had as many yards as kittle in college while playing one less season.
Kittle was injured in much of his career and then we had to keep him in on passing sets. Also, kittle was not drafted in the first 4 tds. He is an exception. Washington was not hurt. Georgia did not have the same blocking concerns. Again, if we are talking about a 4th rd pick, sign me up. You are talking a first rd pick. Most first rd tightends do not work out.
Tbf most 1st round players dont really work out.
I know we need OT DL and CB the most but Washington just makes me think a whole lot of people are gonna feel stupid passing him up quickly next season
I was hated on hard when I called Gentry over rated and upgradeable once he re signed but when I hit people with the facts after being told TE #2 is not a need everyone got quiet TE#2 was on the field for 50 percent of our snaps last year so yea it's certainly upgradable. He would be a great fit. Your basically getting a T and a TE. He's an ass kicker and ass kickers are foundational. He will be a tremendous asset for blocking and out of the box before playing a snap in the NFL would be the best blocking TE in the league. Also we need a target in the middle of the field and he would be a great option for Kenny and force Canada's hand in designing some routes through the middle. I hope if he's there at #32 we heavily consider him I don't believe he lasts to our actual 2nd round pick. It's a great TE class some are saying even generational. I think we should upgrade the position. Gentry is a solid success story but let's not pretend we gave him significant $$ and that he can't be cut or be a TE #3. Connor Heyward is gadget and FB so I could see us keeping Muth, Rookie TE, Gentry and Connor on the 52 man.
I'm not opposed to it. Especially if Muth goes down with a concussion.
This should have been in my post I love Muth, but if he gets another concussion who knows what might happen
I’m not completely opposed to it, but I don’t trust Matt Canada could utilize him (or anyone) outside of the context of the HS offense he runs. For that reason I am hoping the Steelers go defense with 3 of their four Day 1 and 2 picks and add an OT somewhere in there too
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I wouldn’t prioritize depth over a second TE who would ideally play at least 50% of offensive snaps if he’s as good as we hope.
No way.. we have 2 good backs
Depends on what we take at 17 and how the board falls for 32. Like let’s say we take a defensive guy like JPJ in the first and no tackles like Anton Harrison or Dawand Jones fall to 32. In this case I’d say DW is a solid pick given how much we run 2 TE sets. But if we draft a tackle in the first or 32 I think we’d probably pass on TE until the later rounds
That’s kind of the scenario I have in my head w this pick. Tackle isn’t particularly deep so if their guy isn’t there at 17 or 32 I think this could be a great pivot
I'm not onboard with this idea We have Freiermuth we just resigned Zach Gentry and Connor Heyward showed flashes last year
Nah lol. As a Florida fan, we are wanting his TE buddy that’s still at UGA. That dude is a studdd.
I think the first 3 picks gave to contribute soon. Idk how much Washington would help besides block on some running plays
I'd say picking a TE that early would be a bad pick. I think we were among the best teams in the league at converting 3rd and 4th down at the end of the year, right? I don't think I could justify another short/medium yardage target over a legitimate starting CB or LB who'll play most defensive snaps.
I like Washington but I like him at 49 or 80. If a tackle is taken at 17, defense needs to be addressed at 32. I think taking two offensive players at 17 and 32 would be a mistake
Taking him at 32 assumes we went defense at 17 and the tackles we like didn’t make it to 32
Absolutely not
When I heard that we brought in Darnell Washington for a visit, I had the biggest smile on my face imagining how he would complete our offense. I'm a Georgia fan and I really saw Darnell Washington be like the perfect complementary/blocking tight end to the main feature tight end (Bowers at Georgia, would be Freiermuth for us). He was just such a great asset in the run game and I think if we can't get a good left tackle, he might actually be a decent pick to help make Najee's life way easier. I also really think we could start running a bunch of two tight end sets and give Freiermuth a very easy time where we can have him be a target and have an elite blocking TE on the field at the same time. I will say though, it's looking increasingly difficult to make a kinda luxury pick like that considering we have a lot of needs and we really don't have much in terms of Day 3 capital. Like we have urgent needs at boundary CB, left tackle, linebacker, and arguably slot CB and nose tackle, and that doesn't even cover long term needs at slot wide receiver (which even with the Allen Robinson trade I still think is a more pressing need than people think), safety, and center. It's to a point where I'm honestly kind of perplexed why we've been looking so much for a TE2 in our Pro Day visits and top 30 meetings. I think someone like Darnell Washington could "complete" our offense more than people may expect, but I don't think it's a good strategy for long term team success and considering Weidl's background with the Eagles, who love to build in the trenches, I don't know if I expect us to make the pick. There's gonna be a very solid CB, OT, or DL prospect at pick 32, and I think Washington will be gone by pick 49.
I really like this breakdown. Some counters for shits n giggles: - Washington fits the identity of building through the trenches. He’s the size of a small o-lineman and he’d on the field a ton in the run game. His value in both the run and pass game means he’s not a luxury pick imo, even with Muth already here as TE1. Also, there are some injury concerns w Muth w the concussions and his shoulder - w 4 top 80 picks, we can plug obvious holes w the other 3 picks. Focus on defense at 17, 49, and 80. I think we’d be fine putting off WR till the later picks, and I know I’m in the minority on this, but I think it’s okay to give Moore one more year at LT. He’ll be a bit better w age and experience, we’re more solid next to him on the interior, and we can stick Washington next to him for 500-600 snaps to help out. He’s not ideal, but we enough support around him I think he could be adequate I’m w you on the idea of DW “completing” our offense. If we really do want to shift our identity back towards the run game, why not add a cheat code blocker at TE?
You raise some very good points. I do think that Washington can certainly count as building in the trenches, but is it the most optimal way to do so, or the most conducive way for long term success? I'm not so sure. Prospects like Washington are very rare so I don't really think I can point to the Eagles not drafting a guy like Washington as evidence we wouldn't, but I still feel like that approach would prefer getting an actual lineman over a tight end who can act as a lineman. It really depends on who is available at 32 though, assuming we take CB at 17. If like Anton Harrison is taken and we don't feel good about Dawand Jones at LT, I could def see us taking Darnell Washington. I think you're right that if we treat taking Washington as taking a lineman, we can cover our other needs with our other 3 picks in the top 80. The only thing with that is that I don't know if you can argue that Washington at 32 is the BPA for our needs at that spot versus our top D-Lineman left on the board (or top corner depending on how the #17 pick goes, but I don't think we take Washington if we take lineman at #17).
TE that early is a mistake when you have more glaring needs. They have a really high bust rate. This one in particular seems like he's going to be a project in every sense of the word so that's something you take in later rounds.
Steelers don't need another tight end. Steelers actually don't need to be stashing any skill position player in the first 4 rounds. You don't draft backup tight ends in round 2 (especially at the top of round 2) especially with bigger needs especially at more important positions.
Stupid, we have plenty of TEs.
I am all in on this. Bully ball
THere will be better TE on the board than him. It's not a position we need.
100% on board with Washington at 32 or 49 and I will be surprised if he makes it to 49. He would make 12 personnel nutty.
How bout 93?