Steelers 2021 re-draft: 3 picks stick and Pittsburgh rebuilds the OL

Steelers Round 2:

Original Pick: Pat Freiermuth, TE

Re-Draft Pick: Pat Freiermuth, TE

With center taken care of and running back planned out for later, Pat Freiermuth is a pretty easy keep in this draft. While he hasn’t been flashy, his throwback, physical play style has already earned the admiration of Steelers nation. He can chip in as a blocker, make the tough catches, and has been a great red-zone threat for the team.

Tight end was an underrated need heading into the 2021 draft. Eric Ebron was set to play one last year with the team and rookie tight ends typically need a season or two to develop before they can be counted on to start. This seemed likely for Freiermuth as well, as he was a junior at Penn St. and had been injured in his last season, limiting his overall play. That said, he has come on strong this season and is primed to be a security blanket for the next quarterback.

While the tight end isn’t a vital position, Freiermuth has more than earned his spot on the roster so far. He will likely be the starter for the next five to six seasons at least, and he can still develop more as a blocker to further add to his value. This has been the team’s best pick of the draft so far. Freiermuth should be a fixture in this offense for the next few seasons and is easily worth the second-round pick.