The Steelers caught the NFL off guard in April when they snagged Pat Freiermuth with their second-round draft selection in the NFL draft.
Freiermuth was highly touted and considered by many as perhaps the second-highest-rated tight end next to Kyle Pitts in the 2021 draft. Numerous mock drafts had him off the board in the first round. In some ways, it was a surprise no one took a chance on him in the first round.
Then again, everyone thought the Steelers would draft an offensive lineman with their second pick, so obviously, most teams probably assumed he would be a third-round steal. No one expected Franco Harris to announce that the Steelers had selected Pat Freiermuth at the podium, and it shocked many people.
Upon Heath Miller’s retirement, the Steelers did have a gap in their tight end position, and in part, that’s why the Steelers made the decision to sign Eric Ebron in 2020. He would pick up some of the slack, especially with Vance Mcdonald’s retirement. With Freiermuth’s selection, obviously, Eric Ebron’s career with the Steelers became more of a short-term solution. Now granted, it’s hard to say how many thought Freiermuth would make an immediate impact and might work behind Ebron a bit before stepping into the limelight.
Well, Freiermuth answered that question quite quickly and decisively, at least if the first three weeks are any indicator. And he is clearly headed to claim the position of the Steelers’ number one tight end if he has not done so already.