The Pittsburgh Steelers continue to go all-in with Aaron Rodgers, and the shockwaves of their latest blockbuster move could reach Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Pittsburgh traded for DK Metcalf in preparation for Rodgers' arrival, and the team has stolen the headlines again by landing Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith in a stunning deal with the Miami Dolphins. It's the latter part of the equation that should catch the Packers' attention.
Forget Ramsey for a moment. The Steelers quietly included Smith, a Pro Bowler in Miami last season, as part of a package that saw superstar safety Minkah Fitzpatrick go the other way.
The Steelers added Smith to become a go-to target for Rodgers, just as he became Tua Tagovailoa's safety valve last year. He joins veteran Pat Freiermuth to form a strong 1-2 punch at tight end.
But where does that leave Darnell Washington?
Packers should make a trade offer for Darnell Washington after Steelers land Jonnu Smith
The Packers hosted Darnell Washington for a pre-draft visit two years ago but chose Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft ahead of him.
Washington is a different player. At 6-foot-7 and 264 pounds, the former Georgia star wins with his outstanding blocking ability. He drew comparisons to Marcedes Lewis coming out of college, and he could play a similar role to Lewis in Matt LaFleur's offense.
The third-year tight end could act as a sixth offensive lineman and drastically improve Green Bay's ability to run the football with Josh Jacobs. But the best part is that Washington has more receiving upside than Lewis during his time in Green Bay.
Washington only caught 26 passes in two seasons for the Steelers, and he likely wouldn't become a consistent contributor as a receiver in Green Bay, especially with Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave ahead of him. However, Washington could absolutely make a difference when the Packers needed him to.
In three seasons at Georgia, he caught 45 passes for 774 yards and three touchdowns at an impressive 17.2 yards per reception. Again, Washington isn't going to reach Kraft's receiving potential, but he can make an impact.
Think of the play-action possibilities. Washington is an excellent blocker and offers enough athleticism as a receiver to make the offense unpredictable. He earned a Relative Athletic Score of 9.88 out of 10 coming out of college.
The Packers don't desperately need a tight end, but Washington would give them a clear upgrade on Ben Sims. He could slide into the No. 2 role if required, which is something to consider, with Musgrave missing 16 games in two seasons.
Washington would also offer something different to Kraft and Musgrave, and that's never a bad thing. Marcedes Lewis hinted at a surprise return to Green Bay earlier this offseason. We haven't seen that yet, but Washington could play a similar role to Lewis in this offense and offer so much value.
Make it happen, Gutey.