The 2026 NFL Draft has come and gone, and while the Steelers' draft class has dominated headlines for the past week, the real story might be what the draft tells us about one player's future payday. As the NFL calendar enters its quietest stretch, front offices are still hard at work, and the Steelers are no exception. Typically, Pittsburgh waits until after the draft to handle contract extensions and restructures, and this year, the focus is on the 2023 draft class.

Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and pass-rushing specialist Nick Herbig are the obvious names on everyone's mind when it comes to deserving a second contract. But there's another Steeler from that class who should be seeing dollar signs after the message the rest of the NFL sent with the 2026 draft: tight end Darnell Washington.

To understand why, we need to look at two constant truths about the NFL: football is ever-evolving yet cyclical, and the league is a copycat one. These two truths often go hand in hand. The 2010s saw a passing boom, with teams throwing at higher rates and finding innovative ways to exploit defenders who couldn't hang in pass coverage. The proof is on the field today. The 250-pound, run-stuffing linebackers that once anchored NFL defenses are nearly extinct, replaced by lighter, faster players or even an extra defensive back. On offense, the league shifted toward the idea that running backs don't matter—the position became devalued in the draft and in contracts as the NFL became a passing league.

But the 2026 draft signaled a shift back to the fundamentals. Teams invested heavily in physical, versatile tight ends who can block and catch, and that's where Washington comes in. At 6'7" and 264 pounds, he's a matchup nightmare who can dominate in the run game while also providing a reliable target in the passing game. The draft showed that the league is rediscovering the value of players who can control the line of scrimmage, and Washington is perfectly built for that role. For Steelers fans, that means one thing: a big payday is coming for the big tight end in 2027.