Pat Freiermuth has all the makings of an elite NFL tight end, but poor quarterback play and inefficient schemes have forced him out of the conversation. Nonetheless, he once again heads into the upcoming season as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ second-best receiving option. With Aaron Rodgers taking over at quarterback, there’s hope that the fifth-year tight end will garner more respect around the league.
The two have already hit it off. Rodgers said at minicamp that Freiermuth has been blowing up his phone, and every on-field interaction between the two paints a promising picture for Steelers fans on the season to come.
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Pittsburgh Steelers hoping to get more out of Freiermuth with Rodgers at QB
Last year was a stronger season for Freiermuth after struggling with injuries and incompetent quarterback play in 2023. He posted 653 yards on 65 receptions with seven touchdowns, tying his career high from his rookie season.
Still, those numbers were quite average among NFL tight ends, with the top players at the position hauling in over 100 catches and 1,000 yards. It’s unlikely Freiermuth jumps to those numbers, but Rodgers should be able to get more out of him than the likes of Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and Kenny Pickett.
After all, last season Rodgers’ top tight end was Tyler Conklin, who caught 51 passes for 449 yards and four scores. Conklin is a servicable player, but Freiermuth holds much more potential at the position.
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Rodgers has a long history of relying on his tight ends, even if they weren’t the biggest names in the sport. Jermichael Finley, Robert Tonyan, Richard Rodgers, and Donald Lee combined for 568 catches, 6,040 yards, and 60 touchdowns across 245 games in Green Bay. Those are the top tight end producers for Rodgers in his career, and, from a talent and potential standpoint, Freiermuth has a step on all four of them.
While the Steelers will likely continue to search for another viable receiver, the fact remains that Freiermuth is a mouth that has not been fed enough in his career in Pittsburgh. Hopefully, with Rodgers in command of the passing distribution, Freiermuth will see a more satisfying helping of targets throughout the season.