Re-evaluation: Steelers tight ends led by Freiermuth
Steel City Underground presents a post-2024 NFL season re-evaluation of each positional group on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster in this series, highlighting the standout player or players among each group.
When the Pittsburgh Steelers added Arthur Smith as their offensive coordinator in 2024, it was expected that he would install an offensive scheme heavy in tight end usage. Although that was the case, with several personnel packages employed – including 12 personnel, 13, and less often 22 – the tight end that led the group was Freiermuth. We look at the tight ends group’s performance and what might have led to higher overall production.
Tight Ends: Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, MyCole Pruitt, Connor Heyward
Why “Muth” stood out
In a season that saw the Steelers offense move from Justin Fields to Russell Wilson at quarterback yet still ebb and flow in production due to a number of factors, the contract deal Pittsburgh completed with Freiermuth proved worthwhile. Freiermuth led the team in total number of receptions with 65 and seven touchdowns, outpacing receiver George Pickens‘ 59 catches and three touchdowns (Pickens had 900 yards to Freiermuth’s 653).
Muth’s reception total was tied for eighth-most among the league’s tight ends. His touchdown total ranked him fourth among all NFL players at that position.
Despite not being targeted more than three times in a game during six total games, Freiermuth was one of the most reliable players who altered routes to help out his quarterback. Both Fields and Wilson were plagued by pressure and an offensive line that played unevenly through the season; both were tentative throwing over the middle of the field. Freiermuth showed more ability to create opportunities, including off of blocks, and that made him stand out.
Freiermuth would have stood out even more had Fields and Wilson realized that he was also the most sure-handed receiving target they had available on nearly every play of the season.
8️⃣ 8️⃣ hauls it in for 6️⃣
📲 Stream on NFL+: https://t.co/COxKRnr6Mc pic.twitter.com/jrIsYXTQl9
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 15, 2024
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A second look at Washington
The Steelers offense got a total of 96 receptions for 933 yards and 10 touchdowns from their tight ends. That was an improvement from the 2023 NFL season, but lagged behind pre-season prediction models and resultant season play by other tight ends across the league. Yes, four tight ends split the time in Pittsburgh versus teams like the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs who relied on Brock Bowers and Travis Kelce almost exclusively at the position, but production could have – perhaps, should have – been better for the Steelers.
Because of his blocking prowess, Washington lived up to his “Mt. Washington” moniker and was utilized on 584 offensive snaps (a little more than 50 percent) in 2024. His size makes Washington a nice target, but he was targeted just 25 times for 19 receptions, 200 yards, and a single touchdown.
Pittsburgh’s redzone offense was abysmal, which could have been made better had Fields and Wilson attempted more passes to Washington inside that area. Whether that was an issue with Smith’s schemes or execution can be debated. Although Washington isn’t speedy in the open field, his size makes him the type of target NFL teams covet in the redzone… yet, the Steelers didn’t.
Heyward and Pruitt
Heyward, listed as a fullback/h-back, played just 18.3 percent of his snaps on offense. He caught 6/8 targets for 40 yards and a touchdown. Heyward tied Miles Killebrew‘s special teams snaps in 2024 (303) and was responsible for a big-time play in Week 18 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
BIG TIME SPECIAL TEAMS PLAY 💪 @ConnorHeyward1
📲 Stream on NFL+: https://t.co/COxKRnrEBK pic.twitter.com/nhUtuhvVaf
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 5, 2025
Pruitt got lost in the mix a bit. He played 24 percent of the offensive snaps but was often the second or third tight end in a package. Despite missing five games due to injury, Pruitt caught 6/10 targeted passes for 40 yards and a touchdown.
Moving forward
The Steelers need to find a way to better implement their tight ends into their overall offensive plans outside of just lining them up as extra blockers. Had the tight ends been utilized as passing targets in the packages they were often lined-up in, Fields and Wilson might have found more success passing the ball and converting critical downs.
Moving forward, Arthur Smith has some work to do to really re-energize the multi-TE packages in Pittsburgh as a true offensive weapon. Whether that will include changes in personnel/players or schemes will be something to keep an eye on.
