Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington received a huge nod of confidence from ESPN as they issued their 2026 NFL Future Power Rankings. In the rankings, which project team success from 2027 through 2029, analyst Seth Walder offered a high-upside prediction for Pittsburgh’s towering third-year tight end, Darnell Washington.
Despite playing behind Pat Freiermuth on the depth chart, Washington’s underlying efficiency metrics suggest a massive breakout awaits as his role expands.
"Bold prediction for 2027-29: Tight end Darnell Washington will make the top 10 in Jeremy Fowler's annual survey of coaches and executives on the best players at every position,” wrote Walder for ESPN. “He might be the Steelers' No. 2 tight end at the moment, but Washington averaged 1.9 yards per route run last season and was in the 83rd percentile among tight ends in run block win rate. Tight end is a position where players can develop slowly, so he has plenty of time to increase his role."
2 minutes of Darnell Washington being a freak of nature.pic.twitter.com/xXSVud8MvIhttps://t.co/VBf2PkaLta
— Football Performances (@NFLPerformances) June 4, 2026
Standing 6-foot-7 and weighing 264 pounds, the Georgia product was drafted primarily for his formidable blocking ability. However, the data reveals a far more versatile weapon. Averaging 1.9 yards per route run places Washington among efficient pass-catchers, while his 83rd percentile mark in run block win rate demonstrates his elite utility in heavy formations.
Because tight ends traditionally require longer developmental ramps to master both inline blocking and complex route trees, Washington's steady statistical progression bodes well for his future.
As head coach Mike McCarthy leans on multi-tight end sets to power Pittsburgh’s offense, Washington’s rare blend of size, blocking dominance, and receiving upside gives the Steelers a cornerstone asset primed to rank among the league’s premier tight ends.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Why is ESPN staking a bold future prediction on Steelers TE Darnell Washington?