One player of a skill position was added to the Steelers' offense via last month's NFL Draft.
In a technical sense, at least, but also more in a practical sense than most might be inclined to believe.
Darnell Washington brings a notable skillset as a blocking tight end. With his 6-foot-7, 264-pound frame, why wouldn't he? It was his most prominent role as a player at Georgia and while playing behind college football's best tight end in Brock Bowers over the last two seasons.
But, Pat Freiermuth, Zach Gentry, and Connor Heyward are not just primed to benefit from Washington's services in the running game. As OTAs began Tuesday on a summer like midday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, Freiermuth noted there is already a lot to like about how Washington can help the pass catchers spread out and affect new areas of the field.
And, he is expected to contribute to what the Steelers are working to build.
The mentality has shifted into the 2023 season. Now, and from this point, the Steelers are focused on becoming, as Freiermuth puts it, a "winning" offense.
"A winning offense, for me, is going out there, holding each other accountable, understanding what we're trying to get done as an offensive scheme and do what we're trying to do to a defense, and executing," Freiermuth said after Tuesday's practice on the South Side. "I feel like that's the biggest thing this year is executing what we're told to do."
More than just another weapon for Kenny Pickett to throw to and one who can throw blocks for Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, Washington can be a unique weapon in space for the Steelers' offense -- one which was the youngest, on average, in the NFL last season and saw flashes at many points once Pickett was inserted as the starter and was able to play healthy.
Washington and the rest of the rookie class joined the returners to take the first steps into the 2023 season together. The first OTAs are just that. There are 110 days until the season opener against San Francisco, and this week is the time for everyone to get acclimated or re-acclimated with others, to blend the rookies with the veterans, and to discover combinations of how Player A fits with Players B and C, and so on.
There is, still, quite a way to go for the Steelers' offense, despite visible improvements made at varying points last season, and Washington can be a major piece to the puzzle right away.
"He's big, man, he's great, he definitely loves to learn," Freiermuth said. "He's been doing the extra meetings, everything, asking a bunch of questions, and I'm excited to have him in the room."
Washington won't be limited to just one role. In an "official" sense, Heyward is already listed as a fullback hybrid on the Steelers' official roster, and there is a growing sense that Freiermuth can break out as a receiver while Washington and Gentry man the interior and along the line.
Freiermuth registered career highs in receptions (63) and yards (732) while averaging 11.6 yards per catch in 2022. That final figure is up from his 8.3 yards per catch in his rookie season on 2021, though he caught just 64.3% of his passes last season compared to a 75.9% catch rate as a rookie.
With the addition of Washington, that is expected to be improved upon.
"We're just going about our offense, and I'm just doing whatever they ask me to do. I'm excited for this year, and I'm excited to see the complexities of what we can use with all the different guys we have in the tight end room and the receiver room and everyone," Freiermuth said.
The Steelers did not have a 1,000-yard receiver for the third time in four seasons, though Diontae Johnson led the team in receiving for the third year in a row. Johnson registered 86 catches for 882 yards and did not catch a touchdown last season. With George Pickens in Year 2 and as a true No. 2, Freiermuth can be given freedom to run alongside or opposite the Steelers' top receivers.
That becomes possible because of Washington.
"He's huge," Johnson said of Washington. "I seen him today, and I'm like, 'bro, damn.' I feel like he's going to help us out huge in the run game and in the pass game. His size and how they're going to be able to move him around in the offense, a lot of teams are probably going to think he can't run routes or move that good, but the whole time we already know what's going on. Pat's still going to do his game, Zach, and then Darnell, so you've got them three, and you've got Hot Rod (Rodney Williams). But, them three, mainly, they've all got their own unique skillsets, so whatever play they call or whatever play they make I'm sure they're going to add on to whatever they do out there. Having those three guys out there is a big piece to our puzzle."
Above all, though, comes execution.
The Steelers' offense finished as the 10th-worst in the NFL in terms of yards per game, while its 18.1 points per game tied for the sixth-worst in the NFL in 2022. There were visible improvements made at points by Pickett, but there were also severe growing pains experienced as a whole under Matt Canada.
“We’ve got the guys, we’ve just gotta go execute," Pickett said. "That’s how football is. It’s always like that. At some point, it’s players and not plays. We’ve gotta step up and make plays. Guys are working. Guys are showing up with great attitudes and with one goal in mind. It’s good to see. It’s fun to be around, and compete against the great defense that we have.”
