Nate Washington Signs Tender

by cgolden on Apr 16, 2008 3:04 PM EDT in News

The Steelers announced today that Nate Washington signed his one year tender thus ensuring he'll be in Pittsburgh for the 2008 season. It also means that the Steelers were unable to secure a long term deal which will allow Nate to become an unrestriced free agent next off season. Washington will make $1.417 million this season, not bad for an undrafted free agent only three seasons ago. Washington will be the undisputed #3 receiver on this team in 2008 and with an offense focusing on a more explosive passing attack, Washington could be poised for a breakout season.

It's still possible that Washington can be extended before camp or even during the season. I know I have an higher opinion of Nate than most and I hope he stays in Pittsburgh for years to come. He's a dynamic playmaker who can stretch the field but at the same time drives fans nuts by making the acrobatic catch and then dropping an easy pass.

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wouldn't mind

leaving him on the tender all year. drafting a WR in one of the first three rounds this year and seeing if the rookie can be an upgrade over Nate. if not, then we still have space available to give Nate a long-term deal. if a rookie (or someone else) does step up, then easier to let Nate walk in FA.

by TheMostViolentTeam on Apr 16, 2008 3:20 PM EDT 0 recs

I'm with you golden

I have felt that Nate would eventually develop into the WR version of FWP and Silverback; a star player with free agent roots. But it has to happen this year.

by RickVa on Apr 16, 2008 3:55 PM EDT 0 recs

Nate

I like him as well...hope he can step it up...the challenge is he isn't playing up to his ability.

If he doesn't progress this year, he could be done...

by SteelerMike on Apr 16, 2008 4:02 PM EDT 0 recs

done?

Done, as in out of the league or done, as in out of Pittsburgh?

by cgolden on Apr 16, 2008 4:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

league

I wouldnt imagine that too many teams would undertake him as a project after he had 3-4 years in Pittsburgh to prove himself. There's always a newer, younger prospect with potential.

I think Nate will stick though.

by Blitzburgh on Apr 16, 2008 4:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

Would land somewhere for the minimum

I would think he would get signed somewhere for the minimum. He would only be finishing his 4th season after next year.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Apr 16, 2008 4:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

I agree

he'd land somewhere. Not every player has his speed and if guys like USC's Mike Williams and Jacksonville's Troy Williamsson still have a job in this league (both top 10 draft picks the year that Nate went undrafted) than Nate could catch on somewhere. It's almost amazing that Nate has better overall numbers that both those busts considering the extreme ends of the spectrum of thier draft status.

by cgolden on Apr 16, 2008 5:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

i dunno

There's a reason that the average shelf life of players is less than 4 years. Guys like Nate contribute to that astonishingly low figure, even if they don't necessarily deserve to be out of opportunities. We'll see. I definitely dont hope I'm right here.

BTW, Wolfpack, got your email. We'll discuss this weekend at the latest about what you mentioned.

by Blitzburgh on Apr 16, 2008 5:04 PM EDT 0 recs

Ok, cool

No big hurry.

As far as Nate, I guess you're right. You can always find a FA rookie to catch 20-30 passes for a couple hundred yards and 1 or 2 TDs, and spend less.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Apr 16, 2008 5:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

Nate

when I said "done" I was thinking with us...someone would pick him up for the minimum... but if he doesn't produce this year, odds are really low he will ever have that "break-out", sensational season...

again, I like Nate and hope he proves to be a reliable playmaker...someone we can count on to make a play when we need it...

by SteelerMike on Apr 16, 2008 5:11 PM EDT 0 recs

Lets not forget

He is still only 24 years old.

A lot of rookies enter the NFL at age 24. Meaning he is ahead of the curve.

His first year(2005) he was on the practice squad until the playoffs.

His second year(2006) he had 624 yards and one of the best yards per catch in the NFL while making about 350 K. This was his first full year as an every week player.

The Steelers as a whole, only threw the ball about 480 times that year. His production in his first full year as a 3rd WR on a run first team is better than any WR in the NFL.

There are only a hand full of 3rd WR's who had more yards then this guy. The only difference is that the "handful" of WRs are on teams who throw the ball 550-600 times. If we did that, Nate would of probably had 800 yards at least, which would of been the best 3rd WR in the NFL, IN HIS FIRST YEAR AS AN EVERY WEEK PLAYER

This past year he had 450 yards on a team that threw the ball only 442 times. He was making around 450 K.

What does this mean? You're not going to find a better production value for a WR then Nate Washington. And for a team like the Steelers who are always right against the cap, this is very important.

by jason97673 on Apr 16, 2008 5:17 PM EDT 0 recs

Guess I should've checked the numbers

I didn't realize he was that productive. Part of that would also be due to Hines's and Santonio's injuries last year, though.

But, based on age and productivity for a 3rd WR, I must go back to my original thought, that we would catch on somewhere, if only as a 3rd WR. That must be why he signed the one year deal, thinking he could do better after this season.

The question after this year, is will he be worth the $1.5-$2M range, and will he step up into a legitimate number 2 WR?

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Apr 16, 2008 5:35 PM EDT up 0 recs

Well

That is true, he is not getting paid near league minimum any more. So this next year he will need to start putting up WR #2 type numbers. But that will be difficult until he is the official number two WR. And until Ward leaves or retires, he will be number 3.

I have wanted to write an article comparing Nate to other 3rd WR's but it is very difficult because by looking at teams depth charts, the backups to both WR positions could be the 3rd WR.

Its also hard to compare cause many 3rd WR's start a handful of games which skew the numbers.

by jason97673 on Apr 16, 2008 6:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

Washington as the #2

I don't know that Nate will ever be a solid #2. I really think he's got the ability to be a really good slot reciever but I don't think he could produce enough to keep double teams off of Holmes. Not to mention that Holmes and Washington have similar skills (no I'm not saying that Nate will ever be on the same level as Holmes but both are deep threats).

by cgolden on Apr 17, 2008 5:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

One more factor

To call Tiffin a backwater would be kind. He did not attend one of the pro prep factories such as Ohio State or USC. That should be factored into the learning curve.

by RickVa on Apr 16, 2008 6:45 PM EDT 0 recs

Tiffin?

I didn't know it had a football program. This was great scouting again.

by SteelBuckeye on Apr 16, 2008 7:17 PM EDT up 0 recs

Tiffin

In the old days Tiffin was a school where Arts and Music majors went to.

by SteelBuckeye on Apr 16, 2008 7:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

To show you how small Tiffin College is

It isn't even the giggest college in Tiffin! The biggest college in Tiffin is Heidelberg, and that's s very small college!!

by maryrose on Apr 21, 2008 5:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

money talks

"It also means that the Steelers were unable to secure a long term deal which will allow Nate to become an unrestricted free agent next off season."

So that means it's a contract year. I think we should expect Nate's best season yet this year. I know the corner play was weak that night, but he was awesome in the Monday Night Beatdown and 75th Anniversary Spectacular. I've been a fan of his ever since.

"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."

by showtime on Apr 17, 2008 9:10 PM EDT 0 recs

agreed

Contract year! Time to expect big things, though I'd imagine he's been treating every year like a contract year since he came in the league.

I love Nate too, especially after he was such a big part of annihilating the Ravens on 75th aniv. night.

My only issue with him is that Roethlisberger LOVES to force him the ball in traffic. His vertical is apparently incredible, but I feel Ben focuses on that too much and is overly willing to throw one up for grabs to him. No data here, but I feel Ben COULD have been picked off 4-6 more times last season on some of those deep 'jump ball' offerings. He wasn't, but it still gave me a heart attack.

by Blitzburgh on Apr 18, 2008 1:50 AM EDT up 0 recs