The Pittsburgh Steelers held a pre-draft visit with Pitt Panthers tight end Gavin Bartholomew on Thursday. As a local player, Bartholomew is exempt from counting as one of the Steelers top 30 draft visits.
Bartholomew also met with the New Orleans Saints last week. This was according to Jerry DiPaola of Trib Total Media last Thursday. Both the Steelers and Saints have athletic receiving tight ends in Pat Freiermuth and Juwan Johnson, respectively.
Pittsburgh also has a blocking in-line tight end in Darnell Washington. New Orleans has their own in Foster Moreau. However, Moreau suffered a major knee injury at the end of last year, making his status to start the 2025-26 season questionable.
Bartholomew is projected to be a late Day 3 pick or undrafted signing in a deep draft class at tight end. Here is Bartholomew's scouting report from Athlon Sports, written in mid-March.
Gavin Bartholomew, TE (Pitt)
Pittsburgh Panthers tight end Gavin Bartholomew (86) runs after a catch against the Cincinnati Bearcats. © Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
After graduating from Blue Mountain High School in Schuylkill Haven, Pa., Bartholomew migrated to western Pennsylvania to the University of Pittsburgh. He was an instant contributor as a freshman in 2021, starting eight of 14 game appearances and catching 28 passes for 326 yards and 4 scores.
An Honorable Mention All-ACC selection in 2021, Bartholomew went on to have 21 catches for 283 yards and two scores the following year. Part of a horrid Panthers offense in 2023, Bartholomew managed 326 receiving yards to tie his career-best, but had just one score and 18 receptions.
In 2024, Bartholomew caught a career-high 38 passes and scored four times with 322 yards receiving. For his Pitt career, he had 105 receptions for 1,257 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was an Honorable Mention All-ACC selection three times, including each of his last two years.
Bartholomew doesn't fit the prototype many NFL teams now look for in a tight end, essentially a bulked-up wideout capable of lining up wide and creating mismatches in the passing game. His speed is below average compared to many of the league's top tight ends. He simply won't provide much of a downfield threat for defensive backs to contend with.
Not asked to run much of a route tree at Pitt, Bartholomew needs to improve his route precision with expanded assignments. With his lack of athleticism, it's the only way he'll be able to get consistent separation for his quarterback.
At 6'5" and 246-Lbs., Bartholomew is more of a throwback tight end. He'll need to improve his footwork and blocking technique. However, his blocking abilities are the key to an NFL roster.
Bartholomew has good strength at the point of attack for the running game. He's an aggressive blocker who also maintains his power, pad level, and hand placement as a blocker on the move, giving him some versatility as an H-back or fullback.
Pitt Panthers tight end Gavin Bartholomew (86) runs after a catch against the Youngstown State Penguins. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
As a receiver, Bartholomew has shown nice awareness for finding open areas in zones. He works well through traffic, giving his quarterback a viable option deep into progressions. He'll get to top speed quickly into his route, slightly reducing his athletic limitations on short and intermediate patterns.
Bartholomew has good concentration in traffic on contested throws. After the catch, he has decent elusiveness in the open field. He's a physical runner who has the power to break tackles for extra yardage.
Gavin Bartholomew will likely be a late Day 3 choice, if drafted at all. He's not the receiving matchup problem sought by teams now, which will push him down draft boards. However, Bartholomew is a capable in-line tight end that offers immediate value as a blocker and short to intermediate receiving option.
