PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – In an offense that is friendlier to tight ends, Pat Freiermuth should be poised to have a big year. It’s something the Steelers are counting on now and for the next four years. The team signed the 25-year-old to a $48.4 million, four-year deal.
That’s $12.1 million a year for Freiermuth and puts him around 9th for top-paid TEs.
The Penn Stater is coming off his worst numbers as a pro last year, 32 receptions for 308 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Within that he had his first NFL 100-yard game as he missed five games due to injury and just never seemed to have a role in the offense.
His only season with Ben Roethlisberger, Freiermuth totaled seven touchdowns and caught 75.9% of the passes thrown his way. The next season in only eight starts, career-highs with 63 receptions, 732 yards and an 11.6 yards-per-reception. In his first two seasons with the Nittany Lions, Freiermuth caught 69 passes for 875 yards and 15 touchdowns.
New Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is known to feature tight ends and with some role-defining to do in the receiving corps, Freiermuth could emerge as the team’s number two receiver this year.
According to overthecap.com the five highest paid tight ends all make $14 million a year starting with Travis Kelce-KC ($17.1 million), TJ Hockenson-Min ($16.5 million), George Kittle-SF ($15 million), Dallas Goedert-Phi ($14.25 million), Mark Andrews-Bal ($14 million)