Steelers superstar #1
There is no player on this roster that I genuinely think has better odds at becoming a superstar this season than Pat Freiermuth. The second-round pick from a year ago was far better than anyone expected him to be. He was a rookie in a notoriously tough position to transition into coming off a battered final year in college. Yet, by the end of the season, he was a great safety valve and red zone threat.
Tight ends typically take a leap during their second year in the league. There is little reason to believe that Freiermuth won’t follow suit. He should continue to serve as the safety valve for this offense. As well, the expectation is for some new concepts and deeper routes to highlight this offense in 2022. On top of this, Freiermuth will have a full offseason to get stronger and more comfortable in his role.
There is a real chance that Freiermuth is seen as a top-five tight end by season’s end if he keeps up his current trajectory. At the bare minimum, he should still be seen as a better starter than what the majority of teams in the NFL will field. He has some limitations to his game, sure, but his ability makes him a real threat to become one of the top tight ends in the league by the time this season wraps up.
The Steelers need some new faces to step up as stars for this team. While there are quite a few names that could conceivably fill this void, these five players seem like the most likely options. Don’t be surprised to see them turn into stars this season because of their potential.