NFL Draft: Freiermuth lessens need at tight end for Steelers

Apr 11, 2022 • 5:00 am

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This is the fifth in a series on the upcoming NFL Draft, which will take place April 28 through 30. Today: Tight End

After Heath Miller's retirement following the 2015 season, the Steelers went through a number of veteran options trying to replace the best tight end in team history.

First Ladarius Green was signed in free agency. Then, the team traded for Vance McDonald. Finally, Eric Ebron was added in free agency.

Despite some moments of success, none of those additions came close to replicating the efficiency with which Miller played the position.

So, in 2021 the Steelers looked in a different direction, adding Pat Freiermuth in the second round of the draft. And Freiermuth responded with a solid rookie season, catching 60 passes for 497 yards and seven touchdowns.

And with the Steelers short on wide receivers, Freiermuth could find himself being even a bigger part of the passing offense in 2022.

The former Penn State star needs to continue to develop as a blocker, but that will happen as he plays more in the league. As it is, it appears the Steelers have found their starting tight end for the next decade.

That's good because Ebron has now moved on in free agency after missing most of last season with a knee injury, leaving Zach Gentry, Kevin Rader and Jace Sternberger as the remaining tight ends behind Freiermuth on the roster.

Gentry, a former fifth-round draft pick, came into his own in 2021 as a blocker, but doesn't offer much as a receiver. Rader, who has been on and off the team's practice squad and active roster the past few years, could be ready to step up as the team's No. 3 tight end, while Sternberger is a former third-round pick of the Packers in 2019 who is now on his fourth team.

With Gentry scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2022 season, the Steelers could look to add a young player at the position behind Freiermuth, though Gentry certainly wouldn't break the bank on a new contract.

Still, this year's tight end class is a reasonably deep one, even if it is lacking the star power of the 2021 draft, where Kyle Pitts was the fourth-overall pick and Freiermuth went in the second round.

In fact, depending on who you talk to, the top tight end in this draft is still open to debate a little more than three weeks out from the draft.

Some like Colorado State's Trey McBride, the 2021 Mackey Award winner, while others prefer Washington's Cade Otton. Still others like UCLA's Greg Dulcich or Jeremy Ruckert of Ohio State. It largely depends on what kind of tight end it is teams prefer.

McBride (6-4, 246 pounds) doesn't have great size, but he is a willing blocker who caught 90 passes for 1,121 yards -- both school records -- last season. The downside? He only scored one touchdown.

"I think you watch the film, we are a big run team," McBride said of his lack of scoring. "We get in the red zone and we ran the ball. That's what our coach loved to do and I had no problem with that. As long as we were scoring touchdowns. I never argued, never wanted the ball more but yeah, I mean, yeah, of course I'd want more touchdowns. But ultimately we're a run-first team and that's what we did. And when we got in the red zone we were 13, 14 personnel, and I had no issue with that as long as we were scoring touchdowns."

That mentality at Colorado State is what helped him hone his blocking skills -- that and having three brothers growing up in tiny Fort Morgan, Col.

"Growing up with three brothers, you know, we were always wrestling around, things like that," McBride said. "So it probably comes from wanting to be better than those guys and then learning how to wrestle with them. But most of all, I think it's a mindset, you go into this thing that you have that mindset that you're going to be tougher than the guy in front of you and you're going to go out there and win. But most of all, I've been taught that technique and it's really just a mindset that I'm going to be better than you."

In later rounds, a player such as Iowa State's Chase Allen or Austin Allen of Nebraska -- a pair of solid blocking tight ends with size -- could interest the Steelers.

One player who will surely have their attention is someone who isn't really a tight end even though he played the position last season at Michigan State -- Connor Heyward.

The younger brother of Cam Heyward, Connor Heyward was asked to work out with the tight ends at the NFL Scouting Combine even though at 5-foot-11, 233 pounds, he really doesn't fit the athletic profile.

He's actually more of a fullback, but because of Heyward's athleticism and ability to play multiple positions, he is intriguing beyond his bloodlines.

Joining the Steelers, however, would be fitting.

"It would be a dream come true, wherever I play – I just want to play football," Heyward said. "But my whole family’s from Pittsburgh and my brother being Cam Heyward, captain of the Steelers, I think it’d be cool to learn from him and see how everything kind of happens. I’ve learned from him a lot, but I’ve never played with him. That’d be extremely cool."

It wouldn't be a charity case. Heyward had 529 yards rushing in 2018 and 825 rushing yards in his career. He also had 96 career receptions and seemed to make his best plays at the biggest moments for the Spartans.

"A lot of them are asking me where I see myself, as an H-back, fullback, I can be a third-down back, line up in the slot, play tight end," Heyward said. "Play special teams, as well – I know that’s going to be important in my process. I played special teams at Michigan State. Honestly, I think I can play anywhere on the offensive side of the ball, and I think I’m an offensive weapon.”

Lolley's Tight End Rankings

1. Trey McBride, Colorado State
2. Cade Otton, Washington
3. Greg Dulcich, UCLA
4. Jeremy Ruckert, Ohio State
5. Daniel Bellinger, San Diego State
6. Charlie Kolar, Iowa State
7. Jelani Woods, Virginia
8. Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina
9. Jake Ferguson, Wisconsin
10. James Mitchell, Virginia Tech