Steelers best and worst-case scenarios for Pat Freiermuth’s rookie season
By Andrew Falce
Best-case scenario
Freiermuth enters Steelers’ camp with one thing on his mind. It isn’t to be a dynamic receiver or to make a flashy catch, it’s to dominant the blocking sled. Reports come out early that he is doing just that, as he is noted for his physicality and not just willingness but want to improve his blocking. He keeps those rumors afloat during the preseason, as he absolutely throws around the bench defenders from the other teams.
He doesn’t begin the season as the starter, and his lone two starts come from an Eric Ebron injury, but he still sees the field regularly. He finally gives the team a capable two tight-end package to use and use regularly. Both he and Ebron can be effective as receivers while Freiermuth can also throw his weight around as a blocker. This in turn creates a more dynamic offense.
His stats aren’t gaudy, but they don’t have to be. A great rookie season involves Freiermuth doing two things. The first is showcasing he can be a blocker, something that if he can’t do will absolutely derail his rookie season. As well, I want to see him score in the red zone. His physicality allows him to make the tough catch, so seeing him get involved in the endzone is a must.
No, he doesn’t need elite receiving yards. He gets them sure, in his two starts he has 125 receiving yards and a score, but at the end of the day, the Steelers will turn to Ebron as the receiving threat at tight end this season. He is superior in that field at this point. Freiermuth has to show that he can excel everywhere else to see the field.
No, he doesn’t light the world on fire year one, but he has Jesse James-like receiving numbers (in his final year with the Steelers). In his limited role, he registers close to 400 receiving yards and scored four times. He never unseats Ebron, but he registers roughly half of the offensive snaps, signifying that the team wants him on the field. One of the primary reasons for that is that he is a road grading blocker that opens lanes for Najee Harris. Again, elite receiving stats aren’t needed for a great rookie season. Instead, a good showing as a blocker and enough tape as a receiver make him the clear-cut starter in 2022.