The tight end position in the NFL has seen the most variations in player style over the years of any position. The days of expecting tight ends to be primarily blocking specialists and extra offensive linemen are long gone. These days, tight ends are expected to be superb receivers, effective run blockers, and important offensive playmakers.
Pat Freiermuth, a tight end with the Pittsburgh Steelers, recently discussed the approach taken by the team’s new offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, and his role in assisting the tight ends in understanding the modern game.
Freiermuth discussed the offense of the OC in great detail while speaking with Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Jason Mackey.
“It’s really exciting,” Freiermuth remarked. “There’s a lot of stuff for the tight ends here with Arthur, situations where you want to make those plays. That excites me, and I’m prepared to go.”
“My agent, who is very close to Arthur, told me over the phone right away, ‘Dude, you’re going to love him.’ The offense is sick for tight ends.”
The Steelers were ranked 29th in the league with 536 receiving yards from tight ends at the end of last season. With Smith calling plays now and encouraging remarks like the one from Freiermuth circulating already, there should to be a noticeable improvement in 2024.
The use of the tight ends should increase significantly as a result of the offensive coordinator’s change.
Arthur Smith has developed a track record for having an approach that is accommodating to tight ends throughout his tenure as a play caller with the Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons. In fact, his Falcons team may have used their tight ends more than any other team in the league during the previous campaign.
Kyle Pitts was a major contributor to the offense of Smith’s Falcons team. Pat Freiermuth is also expected to play a significant role in the Steelers offense in 2024, given that quarterback Russell Wilson also frequently looks to his tight ends in critical moments.
Pat Freiermuth missed time last season due to a hamstring injury, and only caught 32 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns, which is a career low. He anticipates, though, that in 2024, he will be targeted more often and in unique ways.
Pat Freiermuth Is Entering The Last Season Of His Rookie Contract
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected former Nittany Lion Pat Freiermuth with the 55th overall pick in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. The 25-year-old tight end has accumulated 155 catches for 1,537 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in his three seasons with the organization since then. However, he scored seven of those touchdowns in his rookie season with Ben Roethlisberger under center.
Freiermuth has not been a main component of the Steelers’ offense in the last two seasons. Now that Arthur Smith is the offensive coordinator, it is expected that Freiermuth will be a key component of the receiving game this year.
The promising Freiermuth is now in the last year of his $6 million, four-year rookie contract. He will be free to sign with any team he wants after the 2025 season.
The Steelers will be under a lot of pressure to perform during the 2024 season, but Freiermuth will also need to perform well because it’s his last chance to do so before his contract ends.
Freiermuth must have a remarkable season in order to guarantee his future and negotiate the finest contract for himself.
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