The Pittsburgh Steelers selected tight end Pat Freiermuth in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Arriving in Pittsburgh as a standout from Penn State, the Steelers anticipated Freiermuth to play a significant role in their offense. In his rookie season, Freiermuth had the opportunity to catch passes from legendary quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
During that season, Freiermuth scored seven touchdowns. However, in the following two seasons, he faced challenges due to poor offensive play and inconsistent quarterback performance, resulting in only four touchdowns over that period. He also saw a career low in targets, with just 47 in 2023. Despite playing through injuries, he appeared in 12 games, recording 32 catches for 308 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
It wasn't an ideal season for Freiermuth, but much of the struggle was beyond his control. The Steelers have since brought in new Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith, who is known for involving tight ends in his schemes. Many analysts expect a breakout season from Freiermuth in 2024.
As the team kicked off their first training camp practice, Freiermuth spoke with the media. He expressed enthusiasm about the multiple tight end sets implemented on the first day and was pleased to see his fellow tight ends getting involved in the offense.
“A lot, yeah, and I think a majority of it was 12/13. It was great to utilize all of us. You know [MyCole] Pruitt had a he** of a catch on a stick nod. Darnell [Washington] had a catch and Connor [Heyward] did. It was good to get us all involved today.”
Freiermuth was asked if he was comfortable sharing his targets with teammates Darnell Washington, MyCole Pruitt, and Connor Heyward. While the group is deep, Freiermuth is considered the standout receiving tight end.
Although Washington wasn't drafted by the Steelers primarily for his receiving skills, new quarterback Russell Wilson is interested in involving him more in the passing game. Freiermuth is happy to share targets with his fellow tight ends, as long as the team is winning games.
“Of course. Whatever wins us games.”
When Freiermuth joined the Steelers, he received 79 targets as a rookie, which increased to 98 targets in his second season. He expressed how great it feels to be getting so many targets again, even in practice.
“Yeah, it was very refreshing. First day coming in and seeing the targets come in. It was great.”
Steelers' Pat Freiermuth Playing For His Future In Pittsburgh
Freiermuth is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and some pundits speculate that he may sign an extension before the season begins. While he hasn't fully met the high expectations from his draft status, the organization appears to recognize that this isn't entirely his fault.
The Steelers seem comfortable with Freiermuth as their primary receiving tight end and likely plan to keep him as a key part of their future. The Steelers' offense has seen significant upgrades this offseason. The wide receiver position has been criticized for lacking depth beyond George Pickens.
With a deep group of tight ends and Smith's preference for involving them in the passing game, the Steelers may plan to distribute targets among the tight ends, with Freiermuth likely receiving the majority. However, Washington, Pruitt, and Heyward could also see increased involvement.
There's a positive atmosphere in Pittsburgh as training camp continues, and fans will soon get a clearer picture of how the new personnel will utilize their talent. Wilson missed practice Thursday with a small injury. That gave Justin Fields a chance to run reps with the first team. The improved quarterback play and new offensive scheme should help set up Pittsburgh to make a run in 2024.
