The Steelers signed another young star to a contract extension yesterday, but it wasn’t Joey Porter Jr. It was tight end Darnell Washington, who agreed to a four-year, $42 million deal, with half of it guaranteed. Washington is by far the biggest tight end in the NFL, at 6-7 and 311 pounds, but he still caught 31 passes for 364 yards and a touchdown in sixteen games last season before breaking his arm on December 28th in a loss to the Browns.
Edge rusher Nick Herbig signed his four-year $100 million extension yesterday, and his fellow pass rusher, TJ Watt, applauded the move by the Steelers. Watt and Herbig both played their college football at Wisconsin and Watt said Herbig makes the Steelers defense much stronger.
Watt says the new defensive scheme demands that he – and the entire Steelers defensive front – move around a lot, so he won’t always be lining up on the left side, as he traditionally does.
Defensive lineman Cam Heyward says new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and a number of new players have energized the defense.
Edge rusher Alex Highsmith missed yesterday’s practice due to illness.
Mandatory minicamp for the Steelers wraps up today…at Kennywood Park.
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