Reporter believes the Steelers are prepping for a scenario where Pat Freiermuth is their second-best receiver
Training camp is only weeks away at this point and the Pittsburgh Steelers are still without a bonafide weapon to go alongside George Pickens. The Brandon Aiyuk situation is still lingering, but Pittsburgh's best chance at pulling off the trade came and went during draft weekend. That led Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette […]
Training camp is only weeks away at this point and the Pittsburgh Steelers are still without a bonafide weapon to go alongside George Pickens.
The Brandon Aiyuk situation is still lingering, but Pittsburgh's best chance at pulling off the trade came and went during draft weekend.
That led Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette to say that TE Pat Freiermuth might be the team's number two option, and he might be right:
Muth as the #2?
"As good as he's [Freiermuth] been to this point in his career..it's kind of easy to forget he's never had 800 yards in a season," Batko said on the Pittsburgh Post Gazette's YT Channel. "He did have those seven touchdown catches as a rookie, but only four over the last two years combined. I think this is a season where Freiermuth becomes an even more integral part of the offense and combines that touchdown-making with more receptions and more yardage than he's had to this point in his career. [He] basically will be the de facto number two receiver for this team, and if it's an extension that comes his way before the season starts, I think he'll have the type of year that makes the Steelers look smart for doing it."
There are multiple reasons to believe that Freiermuth can take a big leap this season. For one, he saw the most success of his career the game after Matt Canada was fired, catching nine passes for 120 yards when featured as a target over the middle.
Well, that's not going anywhere, as new OC Arthur Smith runs an offense that just might be the most tight-end friendly in the NFL. He employs big personnel groupings that feature multiple tight ends, runs the ball a lot, and attacks the back seven with heavy play action.
Pittsburgh is bullish on Muth, as talks of an extension have been floated, and there is a chance the two sides come to an extension throughout camp if not before.
But being the second-best weapon on an offense is no small task. There is a reason why Pittsburgh has been so active in the trade market, or at least in terms of making calls.
If Freiermuth lights up camp and the preseason, however, then Pittsburgh will be just fine running with the current group of pass catchers.
