Steelers Now
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth’s best football may still have yet to come.
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth hasn’t quite lived up to the four-year, $48.4 million deal he signed in 2024. But one NFL analyst believes there is a way for the Steelers to start getting their money’s worth in 2026.
Former NFL scout Matt Williamson recently revealed that Freiermuth was the most efficient tight end in the slot with his 36.6% DVOA last season.
That may be a bit surprising to hear after Freiermuth recorded the second fewest catches (41) and receiving yards (486) of his career in 2025.
However, Freiermuth’s down year could be contributed to several factors, maybe most notably, the Steelers’ crowded tight end room.
Last season, Darnell Washington emerged with 31 catches for 364 yards and one touchdown and Jonnu Smith stole another 38 catches for 222 yards and two touchdowns.
Washington isn’t going anywhere after signing a big-time extension this offseason, but Pittsburgh did part ways with Smith.
That, paired with another year of working with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, could make those who believe that Freiermuth’s best football could still be ahead of him very smart.
“Pat’s one stand-out ability was the ability to make a contested catch. He’s not the fastest guy, but he can get open, and making contested catches is really a good quality of his,” former Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said this offseason. “This will be his first season on coach [Mike] McCarthy’s offense. … He’s a very good NFL tight end. Have we seen the best of him? Probably not. New offense, we’ll see what happens.”
A second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Freiermuth has recorded 261 catches for 2,676 yards and 22 touchdowns in his professional career.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Ex-NFL Scout Explains Where Pat Freiermuth Can Thrive in Steelers Offense
