A former Pittsburgh Steelers standout is confident he's leaving his role in capable hands.
The Steelers recently parted ways with Jonnu Smith after a quieter season, where he managed just 222 yards and two touchdowns following a Pro Bowl year with the Miami Dolphins.
Pittsburgh is now banking on Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington to fill the tight end position. While Washington's numbers haven't jumped off the page in his three NFL seasons, Smith sees a world of potential in his former teammate.
During a podcast chat with Jordan Schultz, Smith painted a vivid picture of Washington's "larger-than-life personality," calling the 24-year-old a "larger-than-life human being."
"He's really just like a big kid," Smith said about Washington. "Great football player. He had a heck of a year, making a lot of great plays."
Standing at 6-foot-3 and 248 pounds, Smith is no small figure, but he felt dwarfed next to the 6-foot-7, 264-pound Washington.
"Darnell's probably the biggest teammate I've ever played with," Smith recalled. "During training camp, we lined up in our wing set, and I had never felt smaller on the field... He made me look like a mouse."
Smith is impressed by Washington's unique combination of size and athleticism. Beyond his physical gifts, Smith praised Washington's work ethic.
"He comes in, works hard, listens. Very coachable and can move," Smith noted.
"Seeing him block across the line of scrimmage is something else. There's really no comparison out there; he's in a league of his own.
And that's what makes him special. It's his biggest asset."