Darnell Washington Signs Four Year $42 Million Extension With the Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers Signed the Easy Ones. Joey Porter Jr. Is the Hard One. Two homegrown extensions in two days. The corner is still waiting — and the reason why tells you exactly how his deal plays out. In the span of about 28 hours, the Steelers have locked up two of their own. First Nick Herbig, on a four-year, $100 million extension. Then, barely a day later, tight end Darnell Washington on a four-year, $42 million deal. Two ascending homegrown players, two quick agreements. That’s not a coincidence. It’s a method. Pittsburgh has settled into a clear offseason rhythm: find the player you already know you want to keep, put a fair — sometimes slightly rich — market number in front of him, and get the signature before free agency ever enters the conversation. Herbig came in above his projected price. Washington signed at $10.5 million a year without a public hiccup because neither number was ever really in doubt. The going rate for an ascending edge rusher and a do-it-all tight en...