The Pittsburgh Steelers are known for rewarding players that are drafted by the organization and then prove over the course of their rookie contracts that they can contribute at the professional level. The franchise inked the largest free-agent contract in team history with Patrick Queen, but it was only for three years and $41 million. That tells the average fan that most of the big deals are done in-house. The most recent individual to benefit from this is 2021 second-round pick Pat Freiermuth, not too long after Cameron Heyward signed another extension with the organization.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Steelers and Freiermuth finally worked out a deal that has been expected to come for months now. Per the franchise's history, it was agreed upon just prior to the regular season, just as many of these kinds of deals have for Pittsburgh.
The 25-year-old tight end out of Penn State burst onto the scene during his rookie year. He was one of Ben Roethlisberger's favorite targets, hauling in 60 catches for 497 yards and seven touchdowns. Unfortunately, after the future Hall of Fame quarterback retired, Freiermuth saw his production dip. A hamstring injury in 2023 also hindered his ability to play in all 17 games.
The new offense being implemented by Arthur Smith is supposed to heavily feature the tight end position, which means Freiermuth is due for a heavier workload. Fans won't have a problem with this as it is widely believed that he has been overlooked over the course of the past two seasons. He only has four touchdowns since 2022, which is nearly half of what he had during his first professional campaign.
The 21st century has been good to the Steelers when it comes to tight end, for the most part. Since 2005, 14 seasons have featured either Heath Miller or Freiermuth as the team's starter at the position. This solid run will now continue after the extension. Freiermuth deserved to be paid and the franchise it pretty set up for at least through the 2025 season with Freiermuth, Darnell Washington and Connor Heyward all under contract.
Some believe that Freiermuth could end up being the Steelers' de facto wide receiver two in 2024 given the state of the wide receiver position. It's extremely possible that he ends up having the most targets he has ever received in a season. Look for him to be heavily involved in the red zone, as he could be a lethal weapon for Smith and any quarterback running the show.
Steelers Still Have Other Players Wanting To Get Paid
Freiermuth and Heyward officially got the deals they were looking for, but Najee Harris is not under contract after 2024, as well as both quarterbacks in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. None are expected to agree to new deals until the 2025 offseason, but it's extremely possible that not a single one of them ends up playing in the Steel City after the current season. Their plays will determine what General Manager Omar Khan and the organization try to do.
