Steelers 2021 rookie stock report heading into Week 2

Steelers Pat Freiermuth

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While Pat Freiermuth was always going to see playing time as a rookie, few thought that the Steelers rookie would already be playing well enough to earn starter snaps. He had a good camp overall, displaying the physical catching style that made him a popular receiver at Penn State. As well, he looked far more accomplished as a blocker, leading to him quickly becoming a fan favorite in camp.

That said, rookie tight ends typically have a tough transition to the NFL. With defenders bigger and faster, routes have to be sharper, and catches have to be contested for these big men to make an impact.

This meant the expectations for Freiermuth had to be dialed back a little, but after Week 1, it seems as though Freiermuth will be a staple player in this offense.

He out-snapped Eric Ebron at tight end, with is a huge talking point heading into this second week. While Ebron is more of a threat at receiver, Freiermuth is the far better blocker. With the Steelers hoping to reestablish their rushing attack in 2021, Freiermuth will likely take on a bigger role than expected moving forward.

His debut was pretty good, and the expectations for the rookie have gone up.