RADIO
Pat Freiermuth 2022 Outlook: Primed For A Big Leap In Year Two
3 years agoPittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth put together an incredible rookie season that was largely overshadowed by what fellow rookie tight end Kyle Pitts did. He finished with seven receiving touchdowns, tied for the fifth-most ever by a rookie tight end, and 497 receiving yards, the 10th most by a rookie tight end since 2010. Most impressive, the 23-year-old accomplished this in only nine games while totaling 60 receptions, a number guaranteed to increase in 2022. Despite the limited volume, the 2021 second-round pick finished as the TE12 and established himself as an elite red-zone threat, tying Mark Andrews and Tyler Higbee for the lead league with 20 red-zone targets by a tight end. Additionally, the Steelers let Eric Ebron go in free agency, securing Freiermuth atop the depth chart. Pittsburgh also let JuJu Smith-Schuster sign with the Kansas City Chiefs, locking Freiermuth in as the No.3 target behind Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool. While there will be a transition at the quarterback position this year, either to Mitchell Trubisky or Kenny Pickett, the Steelers coaching staff and organization have earned the benefit of the doubt, warranting trust in the quarterback they select and the offense as a whole. Freiermuth is currently ranked 11th in Rotoballer's rankings with an ADP of 129 overall, providing the opportunity to take a shot later in the draft on a tight end who could produce 10+ touchdowns and finish as a top-five tight end.
